‘Action required now to avoid fastest growing health crisis of our time’
weight or obese. People who are overweight or obese are five times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes.
In Wales around 58% of adults are overweight or obese.
In addition, over a quarter (27%) of children in Wales are overweight or obese. Some 26% of children aged four to five in reception year in Wales are overweight or obese.
This is higher than in England (23%) and higher than any individual English region, where the highest is 24%.
Diabetes UK Cymru is calling on the Government Welsh Government and Public Health Wales to make sure Wales’ national obesity strategy fulfils the requirements of the Public Health Wales Act 2017 and that it covers both prevention and treatment, and a commitment to fully funding service provision at all levels.
The charity also wants health boards and Public Health Wales to work together to identify those at highest risk of Type 2 diabetes through existing risk assessment programmes, as well as to support and roll out proactive preventative campaigns.
Dai Williams, national director, Diabetes UK Cymru, said: “Unless we act, and urgently, diabetes prevalence will continue to rise. Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are serious conditions that can lead to devastating complications such as amputation, blindness, kidney disease, stroke and heart disease if people don’t receive the right care.
“Type 1 diabetes isn’t preventable, but three in five cases of Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed. Obesity is driving the increase in Type 2 diabetes.
“We must tackle this epidemic to stop more people developing the condition in the future. Those who are at increased risk should be identified so that they can get the education, care and support they need to reduce their risk.
“The Welsh Government and Public Health Wales need to take action now to avert the fastest growing health crisis of our time.” ● To find out more go to www. diabetes.org.uk/diabetes-statistics