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Number of people with diabetes in south west increases

Our new figures show that the number of people diagnosed with diabetes in the south west has gone up from 299,299 to 306,267 since last year.

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The highest prevalence of diabetes in the south west was in Swindon, where 7.59% were living with the condition, while the lowest was in Bath and North East Somerset, where 5 per cent of the population were diagnosed. The UK average was 6.8%.

In the UK one in ten people over 40 is now living with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. The new figures show that there are 3.8 million people living with a diagnosis of diabetes in the UK, and 90% of those have type 2.

Pete Weymouth, 32, from Bristol was shocked when he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes last year. He was determined to do what he could to beat it. The assistant sales manager gave up takeaways, fizzy drinks and chocolates and instead adopted a healthier diet. He also started running and going to the gym.

His weight dropped from 20 stone to 15 stone in five months. What’s more, Pete’s blood glucose levels are once again in the healthy range and he is no longer taking diabetes medication.

Pete said: “I used to eat six takeaways a week before. Now I don’t have them at all and I run seven or eight miles most days. Since I decided to tackle my Type 2 diabetes, I have noticed a massive improvement in my mental and physical health. Best of all, I am not diabetic anymore.”

Being overweight is the single greatest risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes but many cases could be prevented or delayed by healthy eating, being more active, and losing weight.

As well as the people who have been formally diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, there's an estimated 1 million who don’t know they have it. This brings the total number of people with the condition up to 4.7 million.

We’re recommending that everyone uses our free Know Your Risk online tool to find out their risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and that over 40s take up a free NHS health check.

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