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Diabetes diagnoses jump by 145,000
The number of people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK has reportedly jumped by 145,000 in the last year, 90% of which have the type 2 condition, linked to obesity and unhealthy diets.
The figures, reported at a European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) meeting, has prompted renewed debate about whether gastric bypass surgery should be a treatment option.
Professor Nick Finer, chair of the Experts in Severe and Complex Obesity taskforce, said: “Type 2 diabetes management is long term, but when linked to severe obesity, there are treatment options that could not only put type 2 diabetes into remission but bring those with a BMI of over 35 into a healthy weight category that can be sustained.”
He cited study findings that bypass surgery reduced obesity-related conditions in patients by 96%, while 90% of type 2 patients who had the surgery had their condition improved.
The Department of Health attributes 58% of type 2 diabetes to excess body weight, and says that the risks can increase exponentially with obesity.
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