More than 16,000 in city are living with diabetes illness

The number of people diagnosed with diabetes in Sunderland has reached 16,259 according to new analysis released by Diabetes UK.

Figures show that the number of people who have been diagnosed with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes has increased by 965 since last year.

This means that the prevalence of diabetes in the city is now 7%, while the national average is currently 6.6 per cent.

Almost nine in 10 people diagnosed with diabetes have Type 2 and it is estimated that there are nearly one million people currently living with the condition who don’t know they have it.

While Type 1 diabetes isn’t currently preventable, three in five cases of Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by making healthier choices, helping everyone understand their own risk of developing the condition and securing early diagnosis for those at high risk.

There are an estimated 12.3 million people at increased risk of Type 2 diabetes in the UK, and obesity is the leading cause.

Stephen Ryan, Head of the North at Diabetes UK, 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 currently preventable, but three in five cases of Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed.

“We need to end the marketing of unhealthy food to children and make sure the food all of us eat is healthier.”