Diabetes concern

Diabetes rates are soaring in Oldham: an extra 255 people have been diagnosed with the condition this year.

Diabetes UK says 8.2 per cent of Oldhamers now have the condition - a proportion predicted to rise to 9.1 per cent by 2020.

Over 14,100 Oldhamers are affected, says Diabetes UK’s regional manager, Julie Byron.

“It is alarming that the number in Oldham has gone up by 255 in a single year,” she said.

The rise consists mainly of new cases of Type 2 diabetes - which are around 90 per cent of all cases.

People from a South Asian background over the age of 25 are also at risk as well as people with close family members with diabetes.

Diabetes UK is encouraging Oldhamers to have their risk assessed - at a Tesco pharmacy, by their GP or online at www.diabetes.org.uk