Diabetes
The prevalence of diabetes in the borough of Rochdale is 8.8 per cent of the adult population (Quality Outcomes Framework, 2021/22). This is above the national rate of 7.3 per cent.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high. There are 2 main types of diabetes:
- Type 1 - In type 1 diabetes the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin.
- Type 2 - In type 2 diabetes the body doesn't produce enough insulin, or the body's cells don't react to insulin.
Diabetes risk factors
About 90% of adults currently diagnosed have type 2 diabetes (Diabetes UK, 2019a). The main risk factors in developing diabetes are:
- Being aged over 40, or over 25 in some black and minority ethnic populations
- Having a close relative such as a parent, sibling or child with diabetes
- Being of South Asian, African-Caribbean or Black African descent
- Having ever had high blood pressure
- Being overweight
There is also an increased risk after a heart attack or stroke and if you have schizophrenia, bipolar illness or depression.
Health problems caused by diabetes
If not managed correctly, diabetes can lead to a range of serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, nerve damage, foot problems such as infections which in extreme cases can lead to gangrene and loss of limbs, vision loss and blindness, kidney problems and miscarriage and stillbirths.
Statistics on diabetes
- NHS Digital – Quality Outcome Framework - the prevalence of diabetes in the borough can be viewed through the Quality Outcomes Framework tool on the NHS Digital site. It also allows you to see data down to GP Practice level for a number of conditions.
- Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) - Cardiovascular disease diabetes profile report - this cardiovascular disease summary profile focuses on diabetes. It includes indicators on prevalence, characteristics of people with diabetes, treatment processes, complications and outcomes including mortality.
Information and guidance on diabetes
- National Institute of Health and Social Care Excellence (NICE) guidance - Diabetes - NICE has produced a number of documents that cover diabetes including guidance on foot care, prevention, diagnosis and management and diabetes in adults and children.
- NHS Choices - the NHS Choices website contains information on diabetes including symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, recovery and prevention.