Birmingham has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the 海角视频 with nearly one in 10 people having the condition in some parts of the city, new research has found.
In the Heart of Birmingham PCT area as many as 9.3 per cent of the population had the condition in 2011/12.
Walsall also registered high rates of diabetes, with 8.1 per cent affected.
Statistics also showed Heart Of Birmingham PCT had one of the fastest growing rates of the disease - up by 1.5 per cent since 2008/09.
And, in the Birmingham East and North PCT, more than 拢350 is spent on prescriptions per patient, making it the third highest spender in the country. Sandwell PCT and Warwickshire PCT are also in the top 10 spenders.
The high rate of the disease could be down to the growing obesity problem in the area.
To tackle the problem, a range of events and campaigns have taken place over the years to try and curb the rising number of diabetics.
Coun Steve Bedser, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing at Birmingham City Council, said: 鈥淢any people still think of diabetes as a relatively mild condition that can be easily managed. They don鈥檛 realise it can lead to devastating complications such as blindness, amputation and stroke.
鈥淏ut, while diabetes can be an extremely life-limiting condition, you can dramatically reduce your risk of developing the most common form (Type 2) by making positive changes to your lifestyle.
鈥淢aintaining a healthy weight through a healthy, balanced diet and exercising regularly are ways of preventing type 2 diabetes and managing the condition. That鈥檚 where initiatives like our hugely successful Be Active scheme can make a difference.
鈥淚 would urge anyone aged 40-74 to see their GP about a free NHS Healthcheck. During the check, your risk of developing type 2 diabetes will be assessed, through some straightforward questions and a few simple health tests. You鈥檒l then be given the support and advice you need to help reduce your risk.
鈥淚f your results reveal that you鈥檙e at a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, you鈥檒l be given information and advice on how to keep your risk low.
鈥淲e鈥檙e targeting specific communities 鈥 for example, there鈥檚 a higher prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in the South Asian population, so Birmingham Public Health worked closely with national charity Silver Star to provide healthcare advice to diabetics during Ramadan.鈥
