At least 4,000 have diabetes in Kirklees - and don't know it

Sep 9 2008 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THOUSANDS of people in Kirklees do not know they have a potentially fatal disease, according to a new report.

More than 4,000 people in the district are going undiagnosed for Type 2 diabetes, leaving them more at risk of heart disease, strokes and blindness.

The figures were compiled by Diabetes UK. Chief executive Douglas Smallwood said: “It’s extremely worrying that thousands of people are going about their daily lives unaware they have a condition which puts them at risk of devastating complications.”

Last year, there were 15,000 people in Kirklees registered at their GPs as having Type 2 diabetes. But Diabetes UK estimate the actual number of cases is more than 19,000.

Risk factors for Type 2 diabetes include having a waist of 37 inches or more for men – or more than 35 inches for south Asian men. Women with waists of 31.5 inches or more also have a greater chance of having the disease.

For more information visit www.diabetes.org.uk.