Health officials call 10% of Norfolk residents “pre-diabetic.” 2023
In Norfolk and Waveney, an estimated 110,000 adults are living with prediabetes, according to statistics released by local health officials.
This is a condition in which blood sugar levels are elevated, putting the individual at “extreme risk” of developing type 2 diabetes if no action is taken.
The data was published in advance of Diabetes Prevention Week, which will take place later this month, with NHS executives urging individuals to reduce their risk.
Over 100,000 persons in the region are “pre-diabetic,” or one in ten.
It comes at a time when nearly 72,000 individuals in Norfolk and Waveney are already living with diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes, the more prevalent form of the disease, is estimated to afflict approximately 66,000 individuals in the area.
And health authorities are encouraging individuals to adopt healthier lifestyles to prevent this number from rising.
The most important thing you can do to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes is to maintain a healthy weight by consuming a healthy, balanced diet and staying physically active, according to Clare Hambling, diabetes specialist for NHS Norfolk and Waveney.
“Knowing your level of risk early on is essential for motivating you to make lifestyle changes that will improve your quality of life.”
While some risk factors, such as age, heredity, and ethnicity, cannot be altered, others can be modified through lifestyle modifications.
If a person is overweight or has excessive blood pressure, they are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Dr. Hambling added that GPs can refer patients to the Healthier You prevention program, while Diabetes UK has an online risk assessment instrument called Know Your Risk.
