Diabetes is not being diagnosed
Добавлено: 15.09.2008, 10:45
A CHARITY claims hundreds of people in Hartlepool and east Durham have diabetes that has not been diagnosed
National charity Diabetes UK say they have huge concerns about the number of people undiagnosed for type 2 diabetes who are at risk of heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and amputations.
The charity claims Hartlepool has the second highest rate in North East England for people being undiagnosed for the condition, behind North Yorkshire and York.
It says 25.36 per cent of cases, totalling 1,098 people, in Hartlepool have been undiagnosed with the condition, while 15.84 per cent of cases in County Durham go undiagnosed, which totals 3,849 cases.
But bosses at Hartlepool Primary Care Trust (PCT) have questioned the accuracy of the figures and say a new screening scheme is being launched this month that could see diagnoses increase. The Diabetes UK figures compared data from the Yorkshire and Humber Public Health Observatory (YHPHO) and the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF).
The charity claims NHS services are failing to diagnose people with type 2 diabetes and leaving more than 20,000 at risk of health problems. Diabetes UK chief executive Douglas Smallwood said: "It is extremely worrying that thousands of people in the North East are going about their daily lives unaware they have a condition that puts them at greater risk of devastating complications.
"Type 2 diabetes can go undetected for up to 12 years.
"By the time they are diagnosed, around half of people with Type 2 diabetes already have evidence of complications.
"Early diagnosis is essential so people can start managing their condition and help reduce their risk of developing these complications."
The charity claims the national average for undiagnosed cases stands at 16 per cent.
A spokesman for Hartlepool PCT said: "We have reservations around the accuracy of the figures quoted by the charity relating to the number yet to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, based on a national formula.
"The PCT encourages those who don't regularly visit their GP, to make an appointment if they are concerned that they may have contracted type 2 diabetes.
"The PCT is to launch a cardio-vascular screening service later this month aimed at those in the 40 to 70 age range.
"As part of this screening, blood sugar tests will reveal if the patient has type 2 diabetes. This will help identify and assist those patients who are at present unaware that they suffer from diabetes."
National charity Diabetes UK say they have huge concerns about the number of people undiagnosed for type 2 diabetes who are at risk of heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and amputations.
The charity claims Hartlepool has the second highest rate in North East England for people being undiagnosed for the condition, behind North Yorkshire and York.
It says 25.36 per cent of cases, totalling 1,098 people, in Hartlepool have been undiagnosed with the condition, while 15.84 per cent of cases in County Durham go undiagnosed, which totals 3,849 cases.
But bosses at Hartlepool Primary Care Trust (PCT) have questioned the accuracy of the figures and say a new screening scheme is being launched this month that could see diagnoses increase. The Diabetes UK figures compared data from the Yorkshire and Humber Public Health Observatory (YHPHO) and the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF).
The charity claims NHS services are failing to diagnose people with type 2 diabetes and leaving more than 20,000 at risk of health problems. Diabetes UK chief executive Douglas Smallwood said: "It is extremely worrying that thousands of people in the North East are going about their daily lives unaware they have a condition that puts them at greater risk of devastating complications.
"Type 2 diabetes can go undetected for up to 12 years.
"By the time they are diagnosed, around half of people with Type 2 diabetes already have evidence of complications.
"Early diagnosis is essential so people can start managing their condition and help reduce their risk of developing these complications."
The charity claims the national average for undiagnosed cases stands at 16 per cent.
A spokesman for Hartlepool PCT said: "We have reservations around the accuracy of the figures quoted by the charity relating to the number yet to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, based on a national formula.
"The PCT encourages those who don't regularly visit their GP, to make an appointment if they are concerned that they may have contracted type 2 diabetes.
"The PCT is to launch a cardio-vascular screening service later this month aimed at those in the 40 to 70 age range.
"As part of this screening, blood sugar tests will reveal if the patient has type 2 diabetes. This will help identify and assist those patients who are at present unaware that they suffer from diabetes."