Diabetes roadshow comes to Salisbury (From Salisbury Journal)

Diabetes roadshow comes to Salisbury

2:40pm Thursday 18th March 2010

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PEOPLE in Salisbury can find out more about diabetes when a special roadshow comes to the Guildhall next week.

The Diabetes UK Measure Up Roadshow, which is visiting 77 locations around the country, will give people advice about diabetes and help them discover if they are at risk of developing Type 2.

The Measure Up campaign encourages people to measure their waists to see if they are at risk, as having a large waist means you are up to 12 times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes.

Staff at the roadshow, which is from 9am to 5pm next Wednesday and Thursday, will be offering free diabetes risk assessment tests.

Almost 17,000 people in Wiltshire have been diagnosed with diabetes, and another 3,400 will have Type 2 diabetes and not know it. It can go undetected for ten years or more and if untreated can lead to fatal complications such as heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.

Graham Cooper, volunteer development officer at Diabetes UK in the south west, said: “Diabetes is one of the biggest health challenges facing the West Country today. It's frightening that there are more than 3,400 people in Wiltshire alone that have Type 2 diabetes but have no idea they do.

“I would urge everyone who can to visit the Measure Up Roadshow. It could be the best thing you ever do for your health.”

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