Siobhain McDonagh MP

Parliamentary questions

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Siobhain's Campaigns

15/05/2002

Siobhain pushes for a better deal for diabetics

Siobhain joins diabetic campaigners outside the House of Commons to lobby Parliament. Pictured with Chair of the All Party Diabetes Group, Dr Adrian Sanders, himself a diabetic

After hearing at first hand of the problems of her diabetic constituents, Siobhain was moved to speak out in Parliament about diabetes, a very serious health issue which she feels has never received the recognition it deserves, given the eight thousand people of all ages, races and backgrounds who are living with diabetes in Mitcham, Morden and Colliers Wood.

There are a million and a half people in the UK who have been diagnosed as diabetic. A further million are living with diabetes without knowing it. They are at risk of blindness, kidney disease, heart disease, angina, strokes, foot problems leading to amputation, and difficulties in pregnancy.

Siobhain led a Commons "adjournment debate" on the treatment of diabetes where she welcomed the publication of the Government's National Service Framework for Diabetics.

However, she said: "Diabetes accounts for £1 in every £10 of the annual NHS budget. This represents a total of approximately £5.2 billion a year, or £14,245,367 per day. That's something like £165 every second. And the costs are set to grow substantially, given that, due primarily to sedentary lifestyles and increasing rates of obesity, the number of those with diabetes in the UK is likely to rise dramatically over the next decade and beyond."

Siobhain remains adamant: "Now is the time to deliver on diabetes", she says.

"Now is the time to deliver on diabetes."

Siobhain McDonagh MP,
Diabetes campaign,
15 May 2002