Shocking new figures reveal a surge in diabetes cases in south Bucks, with the number rising at almost twice the national rate as experts make a “stark and urgent call” to tackle the problem before more lives are put at risk.
The Chiltern Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which oversees GP surgeries across south Bucks, has seen the second highest rise in the south east among its patients, with a 9.64 per cent increase over three years - compared to 5.93 per cent for England, according to new figures from GP patient data by Diabetes UK.
An average of two people were diagnosed with diabetes every day in south Bucks in the last year, with 1,505 new cases since 2012.
Nationally, the number of people with the condition has hit the four million mark for the first time and Diabetes UK says the crisis is "crippling" the NHS, with a £10 billion annual national spend managing the condition in patients.
In the second quarter of the 2015-2016 financial year, just under £2m was spent jointly by the Chiltern and Aylesbury Vale CCGs on prescription drugs and treatments for diabetes.
Jill Steaton, Diabetes UK regional manager South East, said the number of people suffering from diabetes has risen at an "alarming" rate and insists it is vital patients receive quality care.
She said: “Tragically, we are continuing to see too many people with diabetes suffering serious complications, and even dying before their time, and we know that key reasons for this are that they are being denied both the care and access to education that would help them to manage their condition well.
“It is vital that we start see people with diabetes receive good quality care wherever they live rather than them being at the mercy of a postcode lottery.”
In 2012-13, of 260,328 adults in the Chilterns, 13,879 had diabetes – more than five per cent of patients.
That figure has steadily increased year on year, with 14,638 recorded as having the condition in 2013-14 - 5.6 per cent of all patients.
And number for 2014-15 show that from 263,193 registered adults, 5.8 per cent of them (15,384 people) had the lifelong condition.
The CCG partnership says prevention and helping those affected to manage their condition are priorities, with the group set to take part in a key pilot scheme to help prevent more people from developing Type 2 diabetes in the county when the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NHSDPP) launches this year.
Dr Raj Bajwa, NHS Chiltern CCG clinical director for long term conditions, medicines management and end of life care, said if the programme is successful, it will provide “more power” to support people making changes to their lifestyle.
He said: “As a society we have increasing levels of obesity, we are exercising less, eating more unhealthily and we have an ageing population – all of these factors have an impact on the prevalence of type 2 diabetes.
"The population of Chiltern CCG also includes a large number of people of south Asian descent, who have a higher risk of developing the condition.”
Dr Bajwa says that Chiltern CCGs “concerted programme of projects” to improve diagnosis and management of type 2 diabetes has resulted in “notable improvements” in the standards of diabetic care.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel