Over 460,000 people in the West Midlands estimated to have diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes are being urged to act now ahead of World Diabetes Day on 14 November.

The health complications of getting type 2 diabetes can be serious and life changing – this could be loss of sight, loss of limbs, increased risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.

Shib Dayal, 68, who lives in Telford has benefited significantly from the Healthier You: Diabetes Prevention Programme.

NHS action to combat the problem includes the world-first Healthier You: Diabetes Prevention Programme which identifies people at high risk of diabetes and supports them in living a healthier lifestyle.

Over 67,000 people in the Midlands have already been spared type 2 diabetes thanks to the programme. Since then, the NHS Long Term Plan expanded access so that in the Midlands up to 38,000 people a year will benefit as part of radical NHS action to tackle rising obesity rates and to prevent type 2 diabetes.

People enrolled in the programme get advice on healthy eating and exercise that can prevent them developing the condition, avoiding the need for medication and having diabetes complications.

In the Midlands, 67,838 people have attended the first session of the programme since it was first launched in 2016, with an average weight loss of 3.7kg, six months after attending the first session. For those who attend the session at nine months, the average weight loss is 5.0kg.

Shib Dayal, 68, who lives in Telford has benefited significantly from the Healthier You: Diabetes Prevention Programme. “I learned so much from the programme,” said Shib. “I lost about 18kg and my trousers have come down from a size 42” to size 36”. I also had my blood glucose checked again in April and it had come down from 45 mmol/mol to 36mmol/mol.

“I am feeling a lot of benefits of coming on the programme. I didn’t feel ill before, but I now realise I didn’t feel good. I really remember that I would actually get out of breath tying my shoelaces or cutting my toenails as when I bent over, my stomach would push into my chest. I now can do these with no problems.”

People in the West Midlands can find out their risk of type 2 diabetes by completing the Diabetes UK Know Your Risk tool.

Professor Vinod Patel, Clinical Director Diabetes at NHS England in the Midlands, said:

“Thousands of people in the West Midlands are now at risk of joining the expanding ranks of those living with largely preventable type 2 diabetes. So, it’s vital that people act now to exercise more, lose weight and eat more healthily. It is also essential to stop smoking. Smoking carries an increased risk of many different types of cancer and many serious lung conditions. Smoking is also associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

“Those more at risk include people who are carrying extra weight especially around the middle and anyone who has ever had high blood pressure. Risk also increases with age as people are more at risk if they are white and over 40 or over 25 if they are African-Caribbean, Black African, or South Asian. Anyone who has a parent, brother, sister or child with diabetes is two to six times more likely to get type 2 diabetes.

“The good news is that people such as Shib are significantly reducing their risk by making small lifestyle changes with support from their local NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.”

Anyone who is at risk of type 2 diabetes who would like more information on the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme or have any other concerns related to their health, should contact their GP practice.

Peter Shorrick, Midlands and East Regional Head at Diabetes UK, said:

“Checking your risk takes just a few minutes and could be the most important thing you do today. The next step is taking action, enrolling in a prevention programme, such as NHS’s Healthier You. With the right support, reducing your risk of type 2 diabetes is doable and affordable for many people, and a few simple changes can make a big difference. Research shows that these interventions can cut someone’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes by as much as 50%.”