Llanelli diabetes roadshow reveals two thirds at risk

A roadshow offering free diabetes risk assessment tests to Llanelli people revealed that almost two thirds of those tested were of medium to high risk of getting diabetes.

Of the 173 people who were risk assessed in the Diabetes UK trailer in the town’s Trostre Retail Park on Monday and Tuesday (24th & 25th September), 112 were given letters of referral to their GPs, a referral rate of 65%.

“When they visit their doctors, these people will get advice on how to lower their risk by changing their lifestyle. Some will be offered immediate diagnostic tests for diabetes if they already have symptoms like thirst, weight loss and tiredness,” said Danielle Angell of Diabetes UK Cymru, who co-ordinated the volunteers staffing the Roadshow.

“These results reveal how widespread is the risk of developing diabetes in Llanelli and the hidden future toll the condition will take of the health of the town.”

5.7% of the population of Carmarthenshire has diabetes. Every year, at least 123 people in the county die prematurely because of the condition.

Llanelli was the third place in Wales visited by the Healthy Lifestyle Roadshow on its 96-location journey across the UK.

Each visitor was offered free fruit, a Type 2 diabetes risk assessment test, a chat with expert dieticians and the chance to have a go in the physical activity zone

Diabetes UK roadshows hope to risk assess about 15,000 people this year to determine their chances of developing Type 2 diabetes, referring those at ‘moderate’ or ‘high’ risk to their GP for further tests. As well as providing general information about Type 2 diabetes, roadshows provide important advice about how leading a healthy lifestyle can reduce your risk.

Thirty five of this year’s roadshows are funded by a £414,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund, a further 60 have been funded by money raised from the Bupa Great Run Series partnership. Next stop in Wales for the roadshow will be Caerphilly on 16/17 October, followed by Cardiff on 8/9 November.