UK’s poorest twice as likely to have diabetes and its complications

THE poorest people in the UK are 2.5 times more likely to have diabetes at any age than the average person1, according to figures out today from leading health charity Diabetes UK. And once they have the condition, those in the most deprived homes are twice as likely to develop complications of diabetes as those in the least deprived.

The charity’s new report, Diabetes in the UK 2009: Key statistics on diabetes, reveals the shocking reality for people living in deprivation. Deprivation is strongly associated with higher levels of obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, smoking and poor blood pressure control, all of which are linked to the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and the risk of serious complications amongst those already diagnosed with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Helen Pattie, Regional Manager of Diabetes UK North West, said:- “There are already 296,800 people diagnosed with diabetes in the North West and an estimated 65,000 who have Type 2 diabetes but don’t know it. Action must be taken now to stop a generation of people living in deprivation ending up in an early grave.

Diabetes UK wants health authorities to raise awareness of the risk factors and symptoms of Type 2 diabetes, and what can be done to prevent it, amongst those at high risk of developing the condition. Strategies for this should be developed and delivered in partnership with local community groups. Information must be tailored and made available in formats that meet the diversity of needs within the local population.

In addition, the NHS must ensure that appropriate, high quality care is available across the country and that everyone, regardless of their socio-economic status, is accessing it. Research has shown that people with diabetes in deprived or high ethnicity areas are less likely to have key health checks, putting them at increased risk of developing devastating complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and amputation.

Finally, in these times of economic uncertainty when people are more likely to turn to cheaper, processed foods, food labeling must be clear and consistent to allow people to make informed choices about what they are eating.”

Approximately 90% of people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes, which is strongly linked to lifestyle factors such as a poor diet and lack of physical activity. The condition can be genetic, but many people are overweight when they are diagnosed. Research shows that losing weight can reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes in those at high risk by 58% and regular physical activity can reduce the risk by 64%. There are 595,900 people registered as obese in the North West.

Risk factors for Type 2 diabetes include having a large waist; being of Black or South Asian origin; having a family history of the condition; and being over 40 years old, or over 25 if you’re Black, Asian or from an ethnic minority group. Type 2 diabetes can be undetected for 10 years or more and around half of people already have complications by the time they are diagnosed. At risk waist measurements are 37 inches or more for men, except those of South Asian origin who are at risk at 35 inches or more, and 31.5 inches or more for all women.

Diabetes is a serious condition. If not managed effectively it can lead to complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and amputation.  Diabetes UK supports the Food Standards Agency’s traffic light labelling system.  To find out if you are at risk of diabetes visit www.diabetes.org.uk.

Boys’ calls to ChildLine more than double

VOLUNTEER counsellors at ChildLine North West counselled 6,154 boys from across the UK in 2007/08, more than double the number 5 years ago. Although ChildLine still counsels more girls, the proportion of boys counselled has increased in the last 5 years from 1 in 5 to 1 in 3. This improvement needs to be welcomed, but more needs to be done.

The report, What boys talk about to ChildLine, found that bullying was the top problem, with 1,287 boys counselled by volunteers at ChildLine North West last year. Other main problems for boys counselled include family relationship problems, physical and sexual abuse as well as facts of life.

ChildLine’s base in Liverpool opened in 2007 and during its 1st year counselled 614 children of which 214 were boys. The top reason for boys calling ChildLine in Liverpool during this period was bullying.

Other key findings across all the ChildLine bases in the UK are:
§ The number of boys calling ChildLine feeling lonely, sad and isolated has increased five-fold from 334 five years ago to 1,817

§ Over 6,000 boys called about serious emotional stress within the family

§ The number calling about sexuality has increased more than 3 fold from five years ago to 3,510

§ 5,362 boys called about the facts of life

John Dunmore, assistant director of ChildLine North West said:- “The increase in the number of boys calling ChildLine could be due to notions of masculinity changing, meaning that there’s no longer so much pressure to be macho, which has led to more boys feeling able to ask for help. However we still get far fewer calls from boys than girls, so we need to reach out to boys and encourage them to speak out.”

The number of boys calling ChildLine feeling lonely, sad and isolated has increased 5 fold. One 15 year old boy told ChildLine “Boys at school strangle, punch and kick me, I feel lonely and angry with the teachers who seem to do nothing and I feel suicidal. I’ve never told anyone before.”

Another 14 year old boy said:- “My dad hit me with a belt as punishment. This happens once or twice a month and leaves marks for days.”

John Dunmore continued:- “Sometimes you have to work hard to get boys to open up. But once they do, they’re surprised that someone’s there listening to them. Not all the boys tell us whether they have spoken out about their problems before. But nearly half of those who did said they hadn’t told anyone before calling ChildLine.

The research would suggest that there is a need for alternative and innovative ways to engage with boys and their problems. So in response, the NSPCC aims to develop the existing ChildLine and NSPCC Helpline services to offer additional support through new technologies, such as the web and mobile phones.”

In order to do this, the charity needs to raise an extra £50 million through its Child’s Voice Appeal over the next three years in addition to £30 million already pledged by the UK government so that ChildLine can try to answer every call for help.

John Dunmore said:- “Boys and girls need ChildLine as much as ever. We desperately need public support to help save young lives and be there for more children.”