World Diabetes Day 2024

Today, on World Diabetes Day 2024, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (CTMUHB)’s Executive Director of Public Health, Philip Daniels, has released a report highlighting the prevalence of the condition across the region.

Amongst the report’s findings is the stark statistic that the CTM area has some of the highest levels of people who are overweight or obese in Wales; including adults and children.

More than 200,000 people in Wales are living with diabetes, with 31,000 of them living within the CTM footprint. Linked with obesity and being overweight, type two diabetes accounts for approximately 90% of all diabetes cases. It is largely preventable, both in terms of onset and the development of complications and outcomes.

Approximately half of type two diabetes cases could have been prevented with lifestyle change such a better diet, increasing physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight.

Executive Director of Public Health Philip Daniels said: “My report looks at the very sobering reality that CTMUHB has some of Wales’s highest levels of obesity in adults and children. Not only this, we also have the highest percentage of people in Wales with type 2 diabetes with a BMI 40+. Around two in three adults in CTM are overweight or obese, and around one in three are living with obesity.”

“More concerning is that one in eight, four-five year-olds in CTM start their school journey with obesity, and more than one in four are overweight. This is the highest rate of child obesity in Wales.”

Being overweight or obesity is the leading modifiable risk factor for type two diabetes, and there are currently children living in CTM region who have a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes.

Philip continued: “Diabetes itself is a serious condition, but it is not the only cause for concern when a person has this condition. People living with diabetes are at risk of potentially serious complications, including foot disease, cardiovascular disease including heart attacks and stroke, sight loss, kidney disease and kidney failure, along with overall reduced wellbeing and an increased risk of depression. In addition, people with diabetes have up to ten years reduced life expectancy as those without diabetes.”

There is also a financial cost; the treatment of type 2 diabetes accounts for around 10% of the annual NHS budget with 80% of this attributable to the complications of diabetes.

Talking about the work being done to address these issues in CTM, Philip added: “Significant work is happening to tackle these issues. We are currently developing our local, long-term vision for Healthy Weight in CTMUHB, aligned to the National Strategy. This includes creating a healthy environment for our staff, patients and visitors as well as providing co-designed, community-oriented support for individuals and families to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

“If we are to reduce the high numbers of people who are overweight or obese (and therefore higher risk of developing diabetes) we need to take a long term, system wide approach, working together with our stakeholders, partner organisations and communities.

“We are planning to lead a change in the way we talk and think about obesity across CTM. We will create healthier communities, working with stakeholders to take opportunities to shape our food and activity environments. We are listening to our communities and aim to develop a regional action plan, which will facilitating long term change.”

To read the full report, please click here

14/11/2024