07/01/2009
Calls For NI Diabetes Regional Strategy
Calls for a regional strategy to tackle diabetes in Northern Ireland have been made, following news that one person is diagnosed with the condition every three minutes in the UK.
Diabetes UK published new data which showed the number of people diagnosed with the condition is growing faster than ever.
The figures found the number of people with the condition last year in Northern Ireland grew by 8%.
The majority of people are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, which is mainly linked to lifestyle issues such as poor diet and lack of physical activity.
Diabetes, a hormone disorder, can cause problems with the kidneys, legs and feet, eyes, heart, nerves and blood flow.
If left untreated, these problems could lead to kidney failure, blindness, stroke, gangrene and possibility of amputation.
"£1m a day is spent on diabetes in Northern Ireland," said the charity's NI director Iain Foster.
"However, it's currently all in relation to dealing with associated complications later on in life."
Mr Foster said: "Scotland, Wales and England all have a regional strategy, Northern Ireland doesn't, and it's still very much an ad hoc approach depending on where you live in NI."
It is understood diabetes is more widespread due to the increase in life expectancy, the increase of obesity and people living increasingly inactive lifestyles.
(JM/KMcA)
Diabetes UK published new data which showed the number of people diagnosed with the condition is growing faster than ever.
The figures found the number of people with the condition last year in Northern Ireland grew by 8%.
The majority of people are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, which is mainly linked to lifestyle issues such as poor diet and lack of physical activity.
Diabetes, a hormone disorder, can cause problems with the kidneys, legs and feet, eyes, heart, nerves and blood flow.
If left untreated, these problems could lead to kidney failure, blindness, stroke, gangrene and possibility of amputation.
"£1m a day is spent on diabetes in Northern Ireland," said the charity's NI director Iain Foster.
"However, it's currently all in relation to dealing with associated complications later on in life."
Mr Foster said: "Scotland, Wales and England all have a regional strategy, Northern Ireland doesn't, and it's still very much an ad hoc approach depending on where you live in NI."
It is understood diabetes is more widespread due to the increase in life expectancy, the increase of obesity and people living increasingly inactive lifestyles.
(JM/KMcA)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.