House of Commons Speaker opens doors to new diabetes centre

The second UK office of diabetes charity Silver Star was officially opened this week by MP John Bercow.
Silver Star was founded in 2007 by Labour MP Keith Vaz, who himself suffers from diabetes, provides free diabetes tests to members of the public, both in its offices and its mobile diabetes units.
The charity’s new Edgware office is the first to open in the capital and will help raise awareness of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes among the local community, as well as carrying out tests and providing lifestyle and dietary advice .
Mr Bercow, who was born in Edgware, cut the ribbon of the Silver Star office before taking a free diabetes tests himself.
“I have special empathy for those who are fighting diabetes, which often goes unrecognised and unreported,” Mr Bercow said. “If people go undiagnosed and untreated, the danger is that their lifespan will be shortened. It is a huge challenge for us all
He added: “The fact Silver Star now has its first headquarters in London is of huge importance. I hope Keith’s work will take charity from strength to strength.”
Mr Vaz said he and those who work for the small charity were thrilled to have the Speaker of the House of Commons open the new diabetes centre, and urged local residents to come along and get themselves checked for diabetes.
MP for Harrow East Bob Blackma, who attended the opening, said: “This is an issue I feel strongly about and I am very glad the charity has its first office in my constituency.
“It’s a great site in the middle of the shopping street with lots of short term parking – people can do their shopping, get the test done and get their result in record time.”