Diabetes - a serious problem needs a serious solution

8.29.00am GMT Tue 2nd Mar 2010

Diabetes UK estimates that 4,400 people in South West Wiltshire have the disease.

Diabetes is one of the biggest health problems in the UK, and the problem is getting bigger. Nationally more than 2.5million people are diagnosed with the disease and there are probably half a million people with type two diabetes who don't know they've got it.

By 2025 the number of cases could exceed four million. Diabetes can cause serious complications such as heart disease, stroke, amputation and blindness.

The cost to the NHS is huge - 10% of the entire health budget.

The charity is calling for diabetes to be taken more seriously, and have asked parliamentary candidates to endorse their ten-point plan for action:

1. Reduce future cases - there is a link between diabetes and obesity so action to keep children off junk food would help, as would screening for the over-40s. Disease rates are higher in Black and South Asian populations so these should be prioritised.

2. 22,000 children have the disease. They need extra help to allow them to live as normally as possible.

3. More understanding and co-ordination amongst health care professionals.

4. Diabetics can mostly treat themselves once they understand their own needs, but help is needed when complications develop. Diabetes UK also wants to ban so-called "diabetic" commercially produced foods, which can actually do more harm than good.

5. More understanding by the ambulance service on the occasions when diabetics have to use it.

6. Equal access around the country to innovative technology such as insulin pumps.

7. Pregnancy is particularly problematical for diabetics, and specialist medical support is needed.

8. An end to workplace discrimination.

9. Improved care for older people - one in four people in care homes have diabetes.

10. Better research - a cure for diabetes would make a huge difference to millions of people.

These are all reasonable requests and I'm happy to support Diabetes UK's campaign.

For more on their activities see www.diabetes.org.uk