18 June 2010

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has revealed that the diabetes epidemic in the Highlands is far worse than had been feared.

New figures show that levels of diabetes in 2010 in NHS Highland are already more than double the predicted levels for the condition in the health board area for the year 2018.

Rhoda Grant said the figures "showed quite starkly why diabetes is one of today’s biggest public health challenges."

In 2004 the number of diabetes cases in NHS Highland was about 5,100, and in 2005, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry in Scotland published a report called "The Future Burden of Coronary Heart Disease and Diabetes in Scotland" which indicated that diabetes was "growing dramatically".

Its forecast, which was based solely on demographic changes in population, was that by 2018, the number of cases of diabetes in NHS Highland would rise to 6,000.

However, the 2009 Scottish Diabetes Survey now puts the number of registered diabetics in NHS Highland at 13,246.

Rhoda Grant said: "Even taking into account the changes in the boundaries of the NHS Highland Health Board area since 2005, this 13,000-plus is more than double the forecasted figure for 2018.

"This surge in numbers with diabetes show how life style, diet and levels of physical activity have contributed to the acute increase.

"The prodigious costs to the individual, society in general and to the health service make uncontrolled diabetes a major public health challenge."

According to the 2009 Scottish Diabetes survey, there are 11,470 people in NHS Highland with the more common Type 2 diabetes and a further 1,688 with Type 1.

The overall Highland figures accounts for 4.3%of the population (the Scottish figure is 4.4%

Mrs Grant said that there are over 3,000 people in NHS Highland estimated to have undiagnosed diabetes, according to the Scottish Public Health Observatory.

NHS Quality Improvement Scotland estimates that the cost of diabetic care now makes up 10% of the national health service budget.

Download this release ( PDF format)

  Share This Page