Quarter Of A Million At Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes In North East

Almost a quarter of a million people across the North East are at high risk of getting type 2 diabetes.

The warning from Public Health England (PHE) comes as they’ve released figures showing the estimated percentage of people across the region who are at risk.

Gateshead dad, Mike Gerrard was 26 stone when he was diagnosed.

He told Metro Radio he wants others to NOT put themselves in a position where their health could be affected for the rest of their lives. “I think most people won’t even realise they have diabetes. I didn’t know I was diabetic, I only found out by chance. I went to the doctors for something completely unconnected and had some tests. If I had not found out, that could have gone on undetected for a long time and the problems then would have been much worse.”

Mike has now lost around 10 stone since being diagnosed and now cycles frequently, as well as changing his diet.

PHE say in County Durham alone, more than 50,000 people over the age of 16 are in the high risk bracket. In Gateshead 10.9% of the population 16 or over are at risk, in Newcastle 9.6%, North Tyneside 11.6%, Northumberland 12.5%, South Tyneside 11.6% and 11.3% in Sunderland.

Barbara Young, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK, said; “Having high blood glucose levels significantly increases your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, which is a serious health condition which affects 2.9 million people in England, and can lead to devastating complications such as blindness, amputations and stroke, and ultimately early death. This is why it is really important that people at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes are given evidence based support to reduce their risk.