Diabetes Prevention Week – Salford NHS aims to raise awareness

DIABETES Prevention Week started yesterday and Salford’s NHS has urged residents to be aware of the risks, with Salford currently having 12,600 residents living with Type 2 diabetes.

And 19,600 more are at risk of development unless actions are taken to prevent diabetes.

The Diabetes Prevention Week is running from April 16-22, seeking to raise awareness of the risks and causes of Type 2 diabetes, along with suggesting methods to seek support and live a healthier lifestyle.

There are 20,000 people living in Salford at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes – and 2,000 people who already have the disease but aren’t aware. Knowing this, will you get tested? #Salford #Health #DiabetesWeeks

— Quays News (@QuaysNews) April 17, 2018

Aside from those that risk, there are 2,000 people who will be living with Type 2 diabetes without even being aware of it.

The NHS urges people to check for themselves by visiting a GP or pharmacy and asking for a test. They will test your blood and weigh you and give you the results.

Dr Sheila McCorkindale, clinical lead for diabetes at NHS Salford Clinical Commissioning Group, is urging people to make the most of services available in Salford.

Assisting this is the NHS Salford Clinical Commissioning Group’s trial service launched in 2016, the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.

It’s the start of #DiabetesPreventionWeek. Find out what we’re doing in Type 2 diabetes prevention at https://t.co/eCDLjK84j6 and follow the action using #PreventingType2 @NHSDiabetesProg pic.twitter.com/fmOaioBmPQ

— NHS England North (@NHSEnglandNorth) April 16, 2018

This is an interactive site allowing users to log their lifestyle and diet choices showing the risks that may entail, developed by Hitachi Consulting.

Supporting this is the Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust’s award winning Care Call team, a phone service aiming to guide patients through a healthy eating programme.

Salford Community Leisure offers a wide variety of activities to support those suffering and reduce the risks.

This includes gym sessions, swimming, exercise classes and many others, all specifically tailored to support those at risk of Type 2 diabetes.

The Diabetes UK risk calculator can be used find out your own diabetes risk from the comfort of your own home.