Diabetes is one of the biggest health challenges we face. The number of people living with diabetes in Greater Manchester has increased by almost 60 per cent over the last decade to approximately 175,000. In Salford alone there are over 12 000 people with the condition.
Diabetes is a chronic condition which if not well managed, can lead to devastating complications, including heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and amputation. Diabetes costs the NHS nearly £10 billion a year, and 80 per cent of this is spent on managing avoidable complications.
It is only possible to better understand diabetes and bring about improvements in its prevention, treatment and care through research. It might sound obvious, but diabetes research can only take place with the help of people who have the condition.
The Manchester-based Help BEAT Diabetes team want to highlight the benefits of taking part in diabetes research and encourage those living with the condition across Greater Manchester to get involved with a wide range of NHS research opportunities in their local area.
Katherine Grady, Help BEAT Diabetes development manager, explains how the service works: “When you join, we’ll explain the different types of research that are available and see which you are interested in. There are lots of ways you can get involved: from filling in simple questionnaires about living with diabetes to taking part in trials of new treatments. It’s always your decision whether you take part in any research study we tell you about. People with diabetes make a valuable and vital contribution to helping understand more about the condition and the best ways to manage it.”
If you have diabetes, are over 18 and interested in hearing about diabetes research opportunities in your area, or you prefer to speak to a member of the team you can telephone them on (0161) 212 5574.
