Drive to diagnose diabetes cases

Diabetes can be life-threatening if left untreated

Health chiefs in Forth Valley have expressed concern that thousands of people in the area may not know they are suffering from diabetes.

The local health authority has now launched a major drive to make the public more aware of the condition.

NHS Forth Valley warned that a big waist size could be a vital indicator that someone has diabetes.

The drive is part of the Measure Up awareness campaign - a national drive by Diabetes UK.

A total of 11,300 people in Forth Valley have been diagnosed with diabetes, almost 10,000 of whom have Type 2, or late onset, diabetes - which can cause life-threatening complications if left untreated.

Doctors believe that up to 3,000 people in the area may not be aware that they are diabetic.

'Increased awareness'

NHS Forth Valley consultant endocrinologist Dr Chris Kelly said Type 2 diabetes was a serious but initially silent disease.

"Increased awareness and identification of diabetes through appropriate screening is essential to identify people with diabetes and help them remain well and complication free," he said.

Those most at risk from Type 2 diabetes are over 40 and white, or over 25 and black, Asian or from a minority ethnic group.

Women with a waist of 31.5in or more have been advised to have a blood sugar check, as have Asian men with a waist measuring upwards of 35in.

White or black men whose waist is 37in or more have also been advised to get checked out.

Blood sugar checks can be carried out at GP surgeries and some chemists.