Diabetes Awareness Week begins 10 June in the West Midlands and NHS health bosses are encouraging everyone to learn more about the symptoms, prevention, and treatment of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, and to know their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by visiting the Diabetes UK online tool.

We are also reminding those diagnosed with diabetes to attend their regular health checks to live your best life and be healthy.

In the West Midlands, three mobile testing van sites for type 2 diabetes are open 11-14 June, 9am-5pm:

• Tuesday 11 June – Black Country Family Practice, Neptune Health Park, Sedgley Rd W, Tipton DY4 8PX
• Thursday 13 June – Bently Bridge Car Park, Main Block (towards Cineworld). Wolverhampton, WV1 1BP
• Friday 14 June – Tesco car park, Marston Road, Wolverhampton, WV2 4NJ

Those attending can simply have a conversation about their risk with a clinician or have a finger prick blood test for early signs of diabetes. Also offered are blood pressure checks, BMI Checks and Lipid Testing. All of which can be early indicators of developing Type 2 diabetes. Next steps, if needed, will also be shared.

Diabetes UK has a range of videos detailing symptoms of diabetes

James, from Birmingham, said: “I got sepsis and was in hospital for a few months, then saw a nurse who noticed my condition and suggested I get tested for diabetes.

“Don’t wait until you’re in hospital to learn you have diabetes. Get tested and keep going to your health checks if you’re diagnosed”

Professor Vinod Patel, Co-Clinical Director – Diabetes for the Midlands Cardiovascular Disease and Respiratory Network, added: “We’re encouraging everyone to learn about the 4T’s when it comes to  diabetes symptoms: toilet (going more often); thirsty (constant); tired, and thinner (weight loss). For those with diabetes, please maintain your regular health checks, because diabetes is often a condition with multiple health issues to monitor.

“If you have any of these symptoms, then please get a blood pressure check and a blood test at your GP Practice, or visit the mobile test sites in the West Midlands on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday this week. You can prevent type 2 diabetes by eating a healthy, balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and keeping physically active “

Peter Shorrick, Head of Midlands and East at Diabetes UK said: “If you think you have some of the symptoms of type 2 diabetes, ask your GP for a blood test for diabetes. It’s important that type 2 diabetes is picked up as early as possible.  If you can attend one of our test site this week for a free test, I urge you to do so.

“We will also be giving out information to support self-management, and signposting people to key local support services including local prevention programmes and Talking Therapies Services in supporting people’s mental health.”

If you or someone you know think you’re at risk of diabetes and would like more information, please visit Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, or, if you have any other concerns related to your health, please contact your GP practice.

Find out your risk of type 2 diabetes by using the Diabetes UK Know Your Risk Score at riskscore.diabetes.org.uk or by searching ‘Know Your Risk’.

If you are planning on attending a test site, please arrive before 4pm.

END

NOTES:

Type 1 diabetes
In the Midlands, 51,605 people have type 1 diabetes. There is nothing you can do to prevent yourself or others developing type 1 diabetes. The exact causes are not known. Although it’s often diagnosed in childhood, people can develop type 1 diabetes at any age. You are at a slightly higher risk of type 1 diabetes if your mother, father, brother or sister has it.

Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes include:

• Toilet – going for a wee more often, especially at night.
• Thirsty – being constantly thirsty and not being able to quench it.
• Tired – being incredibly tired and having no energy.
• Thinner – losing weight without trying to, or looking thinner than usual.

The 4Ts are the most common symptoms of type 1 diabetes but there are other signs to look out for too. They could include genital itching or thrush, cuts and wounds that take longer to heal, and blurry eyesight. These can all be signs of type 2 diabetes too.

Type 2 diabetes

There are 772,683 adults with Type 2 diabetes in the Midlands, nearly 1 in 12 people, or 8.2% of the regional population. This compares with a 7.5% prevalence in England. In addition, over a million people in England have undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes.

Around 90% people with diabetes have type 2, which can be prevented or delayed through being more physically active, eating healthily and managing their weight.

Some groups are at higher risk of type 2 diabetes including: men, people of South Asian or Black ethnicity, people who are overweight and people with a family history of type 2 diabetes. Black and South Asian people have a higher risk of getting Type 2 diabetes after the age of 25, compared with those from a White background where risk increases after the age of 40.

The health complications of getting Type 2 diabetes can be serious and life changing. These may include loss of sight, loss of limbs, increased risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.