News / Diabetes figures soaring
A DRAMATIC rise in the number of people diagnosed with diabetes in Shetland is causing concern for highlands and islands Labour MSP David Stewart.
A 2005 report from the pharmaceutical industry (APBI) had predicted that the number of cases of diabetes in the NHS Shetland area would be 509 by 2013.
However, the latest annual Scottish Diabetes Survey indicated that figures had already soared to 958 last year.
The official estimate of those with diabetes in neighbouring Orkney is put even higher, at 1,374.
NHS Shetland said on Wednesday that the number of cases of diabetes in the isles was not entirely surprising as the APBI report had acknowledged that not all factors causing diabetes had been included in the study.
Consultant in public health medicine, Dr Sudan Laidlaw, said that 4.3 per cent of the population in Shetland had been diagnosed with diabetes, slightly lower than the national average of 4.6 per cent.
She said there were a number of reasons why the number of people suffer from diabetes, mainly type 2.
These include an aging population and the fact that people with diabetes live longer due to better treatment methods.
Dr Laidlaw said: “The services for people in Shetland who are diagnosed with diabetes include a very successful education programme aimed at helping to prevent the complications of diabetes.
“In Shetland we also have a number of initiatives aimed at maintain a healthy weight and increasing physical activity which can prevent Type 2 diabetes, including Counterweight in primary care; healthy weight programmes for children and families; and extensive work in schools around physical activity and healthy diet.”
Mr Stewart said: “If we want the NHS to be a 21st century leader in preventative service, then we must take co-operative action towards that goal.
“The public can expect quality advice on risks to health that certain conditions pose, quality care to enable self-management by those indentified with that condition, as well as the best possible information on how to minimise the risks at the outset”.
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