New project launched to tackle diabetes in Bradford

A new project aimed at identifying people with diabetes in Bradford has been unveiled after new figures revealed that over 45,000 people in the city are at risk of the disease.
Statistics compiled by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) in September showed that 7,638 people over the age of 17 in Bradford were diagnosed with diabetes, giving the city a much higher prevalence rate (9.1%) than the national average of 5.8%.
The data adds to an alarming report by the Bradford City Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which estimates there are more than 1,600 cases of undiagnosed diabetes in the catchment area, while a further 45,000 people are at high risk of becoming diabetic.
To help reduce this figure, Bradford City CCG has set up the Bradford Beating Diabetes project, which will run from November 14 2013 (World Diabetes Day) to March 2015.
Under the first phase of the project, people already known to be at significant risk of diabetes will be contacted by GPs and have their health reassessed, with the option of going on an intensive lifestyle change programme.
The second part of the initiative will focus more on raising public awareness of diabetes and inviting Bradford residents to undergo an initial diabetes risk assessment, with screening to be provided at up to 27 GP practices across the city.
“Diabetes can affect anyone, but understanding what can be done to prevent it and raising awareness can really alert people to how they can lead a healthier life.” said Dr Akram Kha, clinical chairman of Bradford City CCG and a diabetic himself.
“The campaign is a way of putting a local spotlight on the condition and helping family doctors to target people who are at risk or have been diagnosed.”