Diabetes levels continue to increase

Rates of diabetes have increased by 69% in the past decade as the number of people with diabetes in Britain reaches 2.5m.

There has been a dramatic increase in type two diabetes sufferers between 1996 and 2005, which has occurred alongside soaring levels of obesity, increasing from 2.6 to 4.31 cases per 1000 patients.

Type two diabetes is linked to a poor diet and lack of exercise, and as a quarter of British adults are now obese (expected to rise to 50% by 2050), type two diabetes levels will continue to grow.

Diabetes levels are now increasing quicker in Britain than in the US – the ‘diabetes capital of the world’. There are 2.5m people in Britain with diabetes, 90% of which are type two diabetes sufferers, and it is believed there is a further half a million unaware they have the disease.

The research was carried out by the Health Improvement Network, which investigated five million medical records from 300 general practices and discovered the alarming increase in the levels of diabetes.

Diabetes can lead to heart disease, strokes, blindness and kidney failure. Type two diabetes is when the body is resistant to insulin – the hormone that enables sugar in the blood to enter the cells to be converted into energy. Too much sugar in the blood can damage the artery walls causing heart disease and strokes.

The only treatment and prevention for type two diabetes is to loose weight, eat healthy and do regular exercises – 30 minutes of physical activity every day is the recommended amount.

As a result of the growing cases of diabetes, we have increased our range of diabetic assessment tools and products ideal for treating diabetic related foot conditions.

Paladin socks

The design of Paladin socks are designed in the following way:

• Provides impact protection, injury avoidance, anti-frictional, anti-static, anti-bacterial and anti-mycotic

• Resistance against compressive and shearing forces to the heel, ankle, metatarsal regions and dorsal toe regions

• Seamless, avoiding pressure from harsh ridging, skin irritation and abrasion

• A red target symbol identifies the superficial positioning of the dorsalis pedis artery

• Loop-pile cushioning designed to accommodate the metatarsalphalageal joints during the propulsive phase of gait

• Loop-pile cushioning reduces bulk inside footwear, enhancing air circulation and temperature regulation

• The sock will stretch to accommodate wider ankles and calves, and mild ankle oedema

• The double cuff, high-stretch top ensures minimal compression

View further information and sizes from our Paladin socks range.

Other products to help your patients:

• Hi-Dop BT-200 Vascular Doppler. The HI-Dop pocket vascular doppler is an effective non-directional hand held doppler for non-invasive vascular assessment

• Infrared Red Thermometer. This is a non-contact thermometer used for measuring skin surface temperature

• Foot Doc. Identifies foot type in 60 seconds, providing a permanent foot imprint used for sizing and fitting