Stoke City FC has teamed up with the NHS to get behind a special campaign urging black, asian and ethnic minority people to prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes.

Former Stoke City player Noel Blake, who knows what it’s like to live with Type 2 diabetes, has given the campaign his own personal support.

The call out comes as we are reminded that black, asian and ethnic minority people are three times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than white people and that if left untreated, it can lead to blindness, kidney failure, loss of a limb and it also increases the risk of heart attack or stroke.

People living with diabetes face a significantly higher risk of dying with Covid-19 with a third of deaths in England associated with the condition, according to NHS research. However, better management of the condition can help improve control and lead to better outcomes.

The campaign is asking black, asian and ethnic minority people to know their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes through using the ‘Know Your Risk’ tool hosted by Diabetes UK. Anyone at moderate or high risk of developing the condition may be eligible to join their local Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, a joint initiative from NHS England and NHS Improvement, Public Health England and Diabetes UK. The programme supports people to make positive changes to their diet, weight and the amount of physical activity they do – to significantly reduce the risk of developing this disease.

People can find out if they are eligible to join their local programme by completing the Diabetes UK risk tool at riskscore.diabetes.org.uk. Anyone who is identified as at moderate to high risk of Type 2 diabetes using the Diabetes UK risk tool, can refer themselves to a local service for support remotely or online, or should visit their local GP for more information on their risk of developing type 2 diabetes

Dr Seyi Ogunmekan of the Furlong Medical Centre in Tunstall, and adviser on diabetes for Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire CCGs said: “There are several risk factors for Type 2 diabetes, some of which, such as your age or your family history that can’t be changed. However, it’s really important for the community to take heed that there are other risk factors such as your weight which are very much in your control – indeed, the risk of Type 2 diabetes can be reduced by getting support to lose weight, getting more physically active and eating healthy food. I urge everyone from the community to take a pragmatic and practical approach to this very serious health condition to reduce your risk.”

Adrian Hurst, Head of Community at Stoke City Football Club, said:

‘Knowing how to reduce the risk factors associated with Type 2 diabetes is really important and I encourage members of the Stoke City family to carefully consider some of their lifestyle choices that increase the risk of them being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.’

The NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme has continued through the pandemic via video calls and is also available digitally using websites and apps.

To find out your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, visit: www.diabetes.org.uk/knowyourrisk.