Rochdale Euro-MP Chris Davies calls on EU to tackle diabetes

Date published: 31/03/2006

A European strategy to tackle the massive increase in diabetes is urgently needed, claims Rochdale Euro-MP Chris Davies.

Over 200,000 people in the North West suffer from diabetes and thousands more are thought to have the disease but are undiagnosed.

Numbers are rapidly increasing due to an ageing population and an increase in a type of diabetes commonly associated with being overweight.  Britain has the fastest growing rate of obesity in the developed world.

Diabetes is a condition in which the amount of sugar in the blood is too high because the body cannot absorb it. 

The disease can lead to serious complications such as heart conditions, blindness and kidney problem and is the fourth main cause of death in developed countries.  The NHS spends £10 million every day on diabetes and within 5 years 10% of the health budget will be spent on treating this illness.

Rochdale MEP Chris Davies has is backing a cross-party call for the EU to develop a strategy to improve the prevention, diagnosis and control of diabetes across Europe.

The Liberal Democrat Euro-MP said:  "It makes sense for countries across Europe to exchange information and best practice in order to increase standards of care."

"If diagnosed and managed at an early stage many of the long term complications of diabetes can be avoided."

MEPs from political parties across Europe have joined together with the International Diabetes Federation to encourage the EU to co-ordinate EU diabetes research and education. Prevention plans aimed at children are important in highlighting the role of a healthy diet in preventing diabetes.

The main symptoms of untreated diabetes are increased thirst, going to the toilet all the time, extreme tiredness, weight loss, genital itching and blurred vision.