Diabetes cases in Western Isles

“Staggering” number of diabetes sufferers in Western Isles 16/5/14

North (Scottish Labour) MSP, David Stewart has revealed staggering figures from the Scottish Government which reveal the true extent of undiagnosed diabetes cases in the Western Isles.

Mr Stewart, who has been a long term campaigner for those who suffer from diabetes, currently sits on the cross-party group in the Scottish Parliament on diabetes as co-convener and was appointed the Scottish Parliamentary Champion for Diabetes last year.

The figures obtained from the Scottish Government through a series of Parliamentary questions revealed that there are 1,259 people in the Western Isles diagnosed with diabetes.

It is believed an further estimated 698 people remain undiagnosed and therefore at significant risk of developing heath issues and complications from the condition.

Mr Stewart said: “The numbers of people living with undiagnosed diabetes in the Western Isles is simply staggering, and could easily be rectified. I have been calling on the Scottish Government to take steps towards finding the undiagnosed through high risk screening for type 2 diabetes.

“We know who the at risk groups are and therefore who the Scottish Government need to target, those who are overweight, those who are over 45 and those with a family history of the condition. These figures show that the Scottish Government need to review the Scottish diabetes action plan and develop a proactive agenda for the future.

“Scotland has one of the highest incidences of type 2 diabetes in the world; it’s obvious that we should be screening those at risk before it ends in emergency. Diabetes remains the main cause of blindness in people of working age and the main contributor to kidney failure, amputations and cardiovascular disease.”

Rupert Pigot from Diabetes Scotland said: “These figures show the extent of diabetes in the Highlands and Islands, and that it is increasing. Being able to diagnose Type 2 diabetes early means that people will receive the proper care and advice that means they can avoid the serious complications associated with diabetes.

“Addressing the amount of undiagnosed cases in Scotland has no easy answers, there must be a strong co-ordination of NHS Scotland and Scottish Government to examine methods to identify people at high risk of diabetes and ensure that they avoid further problems.”