We are coming together with Diabetes UK to raise awareness of diabetes at our home fixture with Rotherham United on Friday 7 February.
Fans are encouraged to come along to find if they are at risk of type 2 diabetes and also learn more about what to do to improve their general health.
In the UK one in 10 over 40s are now living with type 2 diabetes. There are 3.8 million people living with a diabetes diagnosis in the UK, here in Lincolnshire there are more than 50,000 people with the condition, and 90 per cent of those with type 2.
And in the UK there are almost 1 million more people living with type 2 diabetes, who don’t know they have it because they haven’t been diagnosed, bringing the total number up to 4.7 million. By 2030 it is predicted this number will rise to 5.5 million.
Peter Shorrick, Midlands and East Regional Head at Diabetes UK said: “Thousands of type 2 diabetes cases could be prevented if we help people understand their risk and how to reduce it. Even though the older people get the more likely they are to have type 2 diabetes, it is never too early to know your risk so that you can make changes to prevent or delay it.
“The signs of type 2 diabetes are often not obvious, that’s why spotting them early can be life-changing. Early diagnosis means that fewer people will experience diabetes-related complications such as sight loss, amputation, kidney failure, stroke and heart disease, because they could seek support to manage their condition effectively as soon as possible.
“I would urge Friday football fans to come along and get checked. It’s such a quick and easy thing to do, but is so important.”
An increase in obesity rates is the main driver behind so many more people living with type 2 diabetes in the UK. Three in five adults in England are overweight or obese, and while not every case of type 2 diabetes is caused by excessive weight, it is the single greatest risk factor for developing the condition. Age, family history, and ethnicity can also contribute to someone’s risk, with people of African-Caribbean, Black African, or South Asian descent two to four times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than white people.
Many cases of type 2 diabetes could be prevented or delayed by healthy eating, being more active, and losing weight if overweight.
The symptoms, which involve going to the toilet a lot, being really thirsty, feeling more tired than usual and losing weight without trying, can be easy to miss especially in the early stages. The condition can go undetected for many years, and by the time they’re diagnosed one in three people already have complications with their eyes, feet, kidneys or nerves.
With 12.3 million people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, the charity wants to raise awareness of the risk factors so that people can take steps to look after their health and prevent or delay the onset of the condition and its serious complications.
Jake Longworth, Marketing Manager for Lincoln City FC said: “We are thrilled to welcome Diabetes UK to our Friday night fixture versus Rotherham. We urge all supporters to check out their stall to find out more information about diabetes and whether they are at risk.”
For more information, please pop down to the University of Lincoln Fan Zone.