A TOP doctor has warned of a “tidal wave” of diabetes patients as figures revealed one in 10 people are at risk of developing the disease in the county.

The statistics, released today by Public Health England (PHE), show more than 58,000 people could be at risk of getting Type 2 diabetes later in life due to high blood sugar levels.

The disease can potentially shorten a sufferer’s life by up to 10 years, lead to blindness, and in extreme cases foot amputations.

The report is the most comprehensive study by PHE and has led to calls for immediate action before thousands more suffer.

Dr Garry Tan, consultant at the Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism and Oxford Mail Hospital Heroes winner, said: “We have to warn against the tidal wave of the disease.

“People are talking about it as an epidemic. People at risk of developing this miserable disease should act now. It significantly impacts people’s lives and is something that should be prevented.” PHE has responded by outlining its plans for a “diabetes prevention programme” in the county, to be rolled out by 2017, which will advise people at risk how to reduce the chances of becoming diabetic.

These include healthier eating and regular exercise, but PHE deputy director for the South East Dr Michael Baker admitted people living longer was also adding to the growing numbers.

He said: said: “It’s a change in behaviours that has caused an increase in diabetes. We are unfortunately leading more sedentary lifestyles but we continue to be surrounded by calorific food. Diabetes is affected by your age and what we eat, and with people living longer we are finding a higher proportion of people now have diabetes.”

Between April 2009 and March 2010 there were 22,782 Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics in the county.

In the same period between 2013 and 2014, this number rose to 27,054.

Britain’s biggest charity for the disease, Diabetes UK, has warned the cost of the disease could become unsustainable.

South East regional manager Jill Steaton said: “The NHS spends 10 per cent of its entire budget managing diabetes and unless we get better at preventing Type 2 diabetes this figure will rise to unsustainable levels.”

The charity offers advice to diabetes sufferers on how to control the disease through dietary changes.

Marston resident Phil Bacon was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes two years ago. The 60-year-old, who has a 14-year-old daughter and a stepson, said his blood pressure rose and his weight steadily increased throughout his adult life.

He was put on to a clinical trial in Oxford that looked to address the higher chance of heart disease from diabetes.

Having been given advice from experts, he said he was now watching his diet and keeping active with gardening.

The father-of-two said: “I’d advise people to listen to their doctor. We’re lucky in Oxfordshire because we have great facilities available to us. I don’t want to have foot problems and I don’t want to go blind. I’ve got children that I want to see grow up.”

MP for Oxford East Andrew Smith said: “Such an increase in Type 2 diabetes would obviously have a very bad impact on the people who develop it and their families. It would also place enormous extra demands on GPs and the NHS ,which they would find it difficult, as well as expensive, to cope with.”

A Number 10 spokesperson for David Cameron said: “These figures are a stark warning and reveal the increasing cost of diabetes to the NHS. It is essential that we look at all aspects of diabetes care – right from prevention through to education and self-management – and we welcome the Diabetes Prevention Programme recently launched by NHS England that will help about 10,000 people in its first year.”

John Howell, MP for Henley, said better education was needed to combat the disease.

And Nicola Blackwood, MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, added: “Raising awareness of the risks and preventing diabetes are already key public health priorities but there is more to do.”

PHE has previously trialled its diabetes prevention programme at areas across the South East, including Medway in Kent.

It provides people with information of how to change diets and ways in which they can exercise more – the average weight lost by patients is 1.57kg.

Unlike Type 1 diabetes, which is an autoimmune disease that prevents the body from producing insulin, Type 2 diabetes is a disease where the body cannot produce enough insulin to combat a high blood sugar level.

* How have you learned to cope with Type 2 diabetes? Contact Alex Regan on 01865 425429 or email aregan@nqo.com

DEALING WITH DISEASE FOR 22 YEARS

Oxford Mail:

Headington resident Jennifer Dagnall was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes 22 years ago. 

She did not know she had the disease until it showed up during a regular blood test.

The 70-year-old, pictured with her husband Bernard, said: “When I was younger I didn’t really think about it. 

“But now getting older it is harder to manage as it’s a progressive disease. I don’t think people take responsibility or look after themselves, that’s what’s causing it.”

The grandmother of one goes to the Diabetes Foot Clinic at the Churchill Hospital in Headington once a year for a check-up.

The former solicitor’s clerk added: “I have issues with my feet because my nerve endings in my toes have been damaged, I also have to take insulin.”

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms of diabetes include excessive thirst, uncontrollable hunger and tiredness. 

People may also pass urine more often than usual, especially at night; have unexplained weight loss; genital itching or regular episodes of thrush and blurred vision.

The disease leads to an increased risk of heart attacks, loss of eyesight and foot issues, due to the loss of feeling in the extremities. 

If you are worried you are diabetic you can contact your GP who should organise a blood test. You should receive test results within seven days. 

Early intervention can lesson the impact of the disease, and a change in lifestyle has a significant effect on the progression of diabetes.