Health chiefs across the city have joined forces in a new campaign – called Give Diabetes the Finger – to help Salford residents understand whether they are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes and what they can do to avoid developing the diseases.
Over half of Salford’s population is recorded as overweight or obese which is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes and health bosses estimate nearly 20,000 people in the city are at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Now people are being offered a simple, quick health quiz while they are out and about which could save them years of ill health. If they are thought to be at risk, they will be offered a quick finger pin prick check which will confirm that they do have dangerous levels of glucose in their blood.
The campaign is being run by Salford City Council, Salford Royal Foundation Health Trust, Salford Clinical Commissioning Group and social enterprise Unique Improvements.
Salford GP Dr Sheila McCorkindale said: “Diabetes is a serious, common, life-long health condition. It’s the leading cause of blindness in people of working age and a major cause of amputations, heart disease and stroke.
“There are around 3.5 million people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK with a further estimated 549,000 people who have the condition, but don’t know it. About 90 per cent of adults with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes, which can be prevented or delayed by making simple lifestyle changes, like eating healthily and doing regular exercise.”
Bridget Armour, Diabetes Prevention Programme Manager at SRFT said: “It is so important for people to understand whether they are at risk of the disease or not.
“If, via our campaign, someone finds out that they have a moderate or high risk of developing type 2 diabetes then we can give them the right help, support and advice to prevent their likelihood of going on to suffer from the disease.”
Councillor Lisa Stone, Executive Lead Member for Health and Wellbeing at Salford City Council said: “This is a quick and simple test that could save people a lot of ill health and worry in the future. If you are at risk, then simple changes can go a long way to helping you avoid problems – and if not, then it’s good to know and you can work to prevent developing diabetes.”
Salford City Council’s health improvement service will be out and about offering free diabetes checks at the following locations:
Monday January 25 Irlam and Cadishead Leisure Centre, Liverpool Road, M44 6BR
Tuesday January 26 The Woodwind pub, Liverpool Road, Cadishead,
Wednesday January 27 Hamilton Davies Trust, Liverpool Road Irlam,
Thursday January 28 Nags Head, Liverpool Road, Irlam (morning); Tiger Moth, Swallow Drive (afternoon)
Friday January 29 Tesco Extra Irlam, Woodrow Way
Monday February 8 Lidl, Fitzwarren St, Salford
Tuesday February 9 Boothstown Marina (2pm-5pm)
Wednesday February 10 Boothstown Community Centre, Standsfield Drive (9.30am-1pm)
Thursday February 11, Aldi, Irlams o’ th’ Height, Bolton Road, and Beesley Green Community Centre, Greenleach Lane
Friday February 12 Worsley library, Worsley Road
Or see the online quiz at www.knowdiabetes.co.uk
The campaign is part of a wider national programme called the National Diabetes Prevention Programme (NDPP), Salford is one of seven national sites pioneering the programme.
