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Free diabetes risk assessments
coming to Southport
THE people of Southport are invited to a
Healthy Lifestyle Roadshow where they will find out if they are at
risk of Type 2 diabetes and get valuable information about diet and
physical activity.
The roadshow, run by Diabetes UK in partnership with Bupa, will be
visiting Town Hall Gardens, Southport, PR8 1DA on Monday, 29
September and 30
September 2014, to offer a quick and confidential assessment so that
people can find out if they may have, or are at risk of developing,
Type 2 diabetes.
Last year, roadshow buses travelled the country and saw almost
20,000 people step on board to find out their risk and discuss
healthy lifestyle options, including tips on how to eat a balanced
diet and get physically active, with friendly volunteers and
dieticians.
In nearby Preston, the roadshow found 107 people to be at moderate
or high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and referred them to
their GP for further tests and support.
Diabetes is serious and can lead to devastating complications such
as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness or amputation.
But, if managed properly, people with diabetes can live long,
healthy lives.
In the UK there are 7 million people at high risk of developing Type
2 diabetes as well as an estimated 2.9 million people already
diagnosed with the condition. Diabetes UK and Bupa are working
together to help people reduce their risk of Type 2 diabetes by
highlighting the risk factors and encouraging people everywhere to
live healthier lives.
Up to 80% of Type 2 diabetes cases could be delayed or prevented
and, for many people, the Healthy Lifestyle Roadshow is the first
step to turning their health around. Around half of the people who
were referred to their GP at a roadshow last year have already made
a positive change to their diet or activity levels.
Jo Cunnah, Diabetes UK's Regional Manager for the North West, said:-
"We will have staff and volunteers in Southport to have a look
at how likely you are to develop Type 2 diabetes now and in the next
ten years, through a series of questions and measurements; but
there's nothing scary about our roadshow and no blood tests.
It won't take long, but could be an important way of finding the
right path to a healthier life. There will be lots of information,
encouragement and advice about Type 2 diabetes and reducing your own
risk of getting the condition."
Healthy Lifestyle Roadshows are funded by money raised from the Bupa
Great Run Series, thanks to the charity partnership between Bupa and
Diabetes UK.
Dr Paula Franklin, medical director at Bupa UK, said:- "We
strongly believe that prevention is key, so we hope this roadshow
will help many people in Southport to make healthier lifestyle
choices, especially if they are at risk of developing Type 2
diabetes. Bupa's purpose is to help people lead longer, healthier,
happier lives, and through our partnership with Diabetes UK we have
committed to improving the lives of thousands of people across the
UK."
Anyone who can't attend the roadshow in Southport can find out their
risk of Type 2 diabetes
online.
If after taking the test they are found to be at moderate or high
risk of developing the condition they should visit their GP.
For more information about diabetes visit:-
diabetes.org.uk and follow news about the
roadshow with the hashtag #dukroadshow on Twitter. |
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New homes and
railway station to be built in Sefton
HUNDREDS of houses and a
new railway station are to be built on land in Maghull after Sefton
Council resolved to grant planning permission for the development.
The 14 hectare site, close to Ashworth Hospital, was acquired by the
Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) from the Ministry of Justice in
2013 after plans to build a new prison were scrapped.
The permission covers new strategic railway infrastructure,
contributions to local road and motorway junction improvements and
bus infrastructure improvements, which will enable a well planned
residential development to be created on the site, providing:-
► Around 370 new homes, including affordable and special needs
housing
► A new railway station and car
park to connect the development with the wider area, ensuring
delivery of a key transport objective
► Protection and enhancement of
the site's landscape, environment and ecology
The HCA carried out extensive consultation with local residents,
statutory consultees and a panel of North West design experts to
ensure that plans for the development met local expectations. The
resultant proposal works within existing ecological features,
helping to creating an attractive network of open spaces and
enhancing accessibility from the site into the surrounding area.
Carl Moore, the HCA's Liverpool City Region Head of Area,
commented:- "The HCA works to create opportunities for people
to live in homes they can afford, in places they want to live, and
for local authorities and communities to deliver the ambition they
have for their own areas. This is fantastic news for Sefton, and is
a prime example of what we can do to deliver sustainable and
integrated infrastructure solutions for new developments."
Once a developer is secured for the site, it is expected that
construction of the new homes will start in Summer 2015.
Sign up to
Stoptober with your shopping
STOPTOBER is back next
month following its huge success last year which saw 66% of the
250,000 people who took part stay smokefree for 28 days.
It's a fact that you're 5 times more likely to quit if you can
stop smoking for at least 28 days.
West Lancashire Stop Smoking Service will be at Asda supermarket in
Skelmersdale every Wednesday from now until the end of October,
encouraging people to sign up to the Stoptober challenge.
They will also be promoting quitting techniques including nicotine
replacement therapy and offering carbon monoxide and lung function
checks. "Anyone can take part by signing up to the challenge
at the Stoptober website. Stoptober is a terrific opportunity to
quit when you know there are tens of thousands of other people
nationwide with the same great aim in mind." said Steven Owen, who leads the stop
smoking team.
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