20,000 at risk of killer diabetes

More than 20,000 Oldhamers are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, new figures estimate.

A report published today by Public Health England suggests 11.7 per cent of the population (20,865 people) has non-diabetic hyperglycaemia - too great a level of blood-sugar - putting them at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Dr Jane Rossini deputy centre director for PHE North-West, said: “We know how to lower the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes: lose weight, exercise and eat healthily, but it ’s hard to do it alone.

“PHE’s evidence review shows that supporting people along the way will help them protect their health and that ’s what our prevention programme will do.”

People supported by diabetes prevention programmes lose on average 1.57kg more weight than those not on a programme aiming to significantly reduce diabetes risk.