News release: Experts put diabetes under the spotlight

Abstract

By the time we reach the age of 60 -65, many of us are likely to become diabetic. This
is the message from scientists and health experts taking part in a major health
symposium at the University of Central Lancashire.
Diabetes mellitus is a global health problem currently affecting more than 180 million
people worldwide. The total number of people in the world with diabetes is expected to
reach 220 million in 2010 and more than 300 million by 2025. In the United Kingdom
more than 2 million people are diagnosed as diabetics and another 1 Y2- 2 million
diabetics have not yet been diagnosed (approximately 3% of the British population). It
costs the British National Health Service over 5Yz billion pounds annually to diagnose,
treat and care for diabetic patients. This is an enormous burden for both the sufferers
and the Health Service. Ageing, obesity and ethnicity are special risk factors.
Preston will be the host City for the 4th International Symposium on Diabetes Mellitus,
which will focus on the global issues surrounding diabetes and its complications.
Delegates and representatives from all over the world including Lancashire Teaching
(NHS) Trust will be joining colleagues at the University of Central Lancashire on the
7th and gth July, in order to take an active part in the exchange of ideas and knowledge
of all areas of type 1 and type 2 diabetes meliitus.
The Symposium will be structured in the form of guest lectures by distinguished
clinicians and researchers, diabetes questions, and oral and poster presentations. A
range of issues from epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and complications
will be covered and there will also be a special day-long session on Tuesday gth July
dealing with diabetes-induced heart disease, sponsored by the British Heart Foundation.
Organisers of the conference include academics from the University of Central
Lancashire and Consultant Diabetologists from Royal Preston and Chorley Hospitals.
All are keen that the Symposium, which also includes a Mayoral Reception at the Harris
Museum, should be instrumental in raising awareness of diabetes mellitus, a condition
which often goes unrecognised by sufferers, and therefore untreated.
4 July 2003
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Notes to editors:
1. The 4th International Symposium on Diabetes Mellitus and its
Complications will take place at the University of Central Lancashire in
Preston, UK, from 7-8 July 2003. The lectures will be held in Maudland
TVI lecture theatre (M49) while the posters and commercial displays will be
held at the Marsh Building Lecture Theatre.
2. On the evening of Monday 7th July there will be a Mayoral Reception for
delegates and distinguished guests at the Harris Museum in Preston from
5.30pm. This will be followed by the Symposium dinner at Foster Building
Restaurant.
3. Media enquiries should be directed to Pam Culley, Media & Public
Relations, University of Central Lancashire, tel: 01772 894425,
pculley@uclan.ac.uk . Further information can be obtained from Professor
J aipaul Singh, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Central
Lancashire, tel: 01772 893515, jsingh3@uclan.ac.uk as well as Dr Abdul
Lakhdar, Consultant Diabetologist at RPH (Abdul.Lakhdar@LTHTR.nhs.uk
tel: 01772 522092) and Dr Satyan Rajbhandari (Consultant Diabetologi st,
Chorley General Hospital) (Satyan.Rajbhandari @LTHTR.nhs.uk; tel: 01257
245028).
4. There are two types of diabetes mellitus, type 1 (juvenile onset) or type 2
(maturity onset). The disease is caused by a deficiency of the metabolic
hormone insulin as in type 1 diabetes or in both the deficiency and reduced
action (insensitivity or resistance) of insulin (type 2). If insulin is either not
present or defective in its action then the glucose rises in the blood causing
hyperglycaemia. This in tum results in polyuria (excessive urination),
polydipsia (thirst), polyphagia (hunger), weight loss, fatigue, cramps and
blurred vision in the short term and in the longterm a series of micro and
macro vascular complications including cardiomyopathy (an enlarged weak
heart), retinopathy (damaged retina and then blindness), neuropathy (loss of
touch, feeling and sensation in hands and feet), and nephropathy (kidney
damage and later failure). Moreover, the risk for diabetic men to develop
heart disease and hypertension (high blood pressure) increases by 2-3 fold
and for women 5-6 fold. It is now known that more than 50% of all
diabetics die primarily from cardiovascular complications. A wealth of
evidence base have accumulated in support of earlier detection and treatment
of diabetes lead to prevention of diabetic complications.