Rise in Diabetes Shows Need For Healthier Lifestyles

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders, who is Chairman of the cross-party Parliamentary group on Diabetes has today argued for more effort to raise awareness of the dangers of diabetes after figures showed that there are over 10,000 new diabetes patients in the South West today compared to the same time last year.

Last year 201,489 were registered with GPs as diabetics in the region, compared to 212,940 this year.  Over 90% of diabetics in the UK are type 2, which is caused by lifestyle factors such as eating an unhealthy diet or being overweight.

Adrian said: “This steep rise in patients shows the increasingly unhealthy nature of our lifestyles.  Not only must more be done to encourage people to exercise more and enjoy a healthy diet, but more funds are also needed to research a cure for diabetes.”