Darren Rix, from Pontardawe, Swansea, discovered he was at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes after a routine eye appointment. His optometrist discovered “a wiggly vein” in the back of his eye, which led to a blood test and a pre-diabetes diagnosis. Mr Rix then joined a diabetes prevention programme, which is available in parts of Wales. It comes as public health experts warn that the number of people in Wales developing diabetes could rise by 22% by 2035 if current trends continue.
Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90% of diabetes cases in the UK, and it’s where the body does not produce enough insulin, or the body’s cells do not react to insulin properly. The condition can be prevented through healthy eating, regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy body weight, and it can be reversed with weight loss. Mr Rix cut down his sugar intake, but exercising more and re-establishing his love of swimming, which he had not done for around 35 years, has been the biggest change to his lifestyle.
The Welsh government is funding the pilot All Wales Diabetes Prevention Programme and is considering the next steps in its long term strategy to prevent and reduce obesity. Public Health Wales has put a price on the cost of diabetes, with a medicines bill last year alone of £105m, and related hospital spells costing on average £4,518 per patient. Diabetes accounts for around 10% of the NHS budget, so it’s a significant financial pressure on the NHS, as well as being significant for the health and wellbeing of the people of Wales.
Charity Diabetes Cymru said the NHS “is under a lot of strain”, adding that people living with diabetes aren’t necessarily getting all the checks they need at the right time. In 2021-22, more than 560 people had such surgery in Wales. Dr Jesurasa said many patients on the prevention programme were unaware they were at risk. Since its launch in June last year, it has helped more than 3,000 people
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