Ticking bomb of diabetes is EU public health emergency (Slough Liberal Democrats)

Slough Liberal Democrats <johanney@hotmail.com>

Ticking bomb of diabetes is EU public health emergency

November 12, 2009 12:25 PM
Originally published by Sarah Ludford MEP

Sarah and EP President jerzy Buzek having blood glucose tested

Sarah Ludford with the President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek (centre) and her fellow MEP co-chairs of the Parliament's relaunched diabetes working group Simon Busuttil (left) and Marisa Matias (right) about to have their blood glucose level tested. Standing behind them are Chris Delicata, president of the International Diabetes Federation Europe, and Anne-Marie Felton, president of the federation of European Nurses in Diabetes.They are framed by a large blue circle, the symbol of World diabetes day.

In anticipation of World Diabetes Day on 14th November on the theme of education, prevention and cure for the diabetes epidemic, Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford, who is co-chair of the European Parliament's working group on diabetes, joined the President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek and fellow MEPs in having their blood glucose tested.

Sarah, who explained to President Buzek the magnitude and seriousness of the problem, said:

"The disease is set to affect 50 million Europeans - one in ten of us - within 15 years, many of them severely. This will also cost vast sums to our health services. So it is inexplicable why the EU is failing to treat diabetes as a public health emergency and why Europe only commits one-tenth of what the US spends on diabetes research."

"For us it was one simple finger-prick, but many people with diabetes have to do this dozens of times a day, inject themselves, watch their diet, and potentially suffer extremely serious and life-threatening complications such as kidney failure, blindness and amputations."

"We desperately need a European strategy for research to find a cure, and coordination of best practice for diagnosis and treatment. If it can be done for cancer, it must be done for the ticking bomb of diabetes."

"MEPs must press the new candidates for EU Health and Research Commissioner for pledges to promote a European best practice strategy for prevention and treatment of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and for extra resources to be committed to diabetes research to find a cure."

ENDS

Note to editors

1. Type 1 diabetes develops when the body (the pancreas) is unable to produce any insulin at all and generally occurs before the age of 30, sometimes in very young babies. It requires insulin injections or a pump. Type 2 is when there is insufficient insulin or resistance to it, and it develops often in response to obesity or an unhealthy lifestyle and can be treated with tablets or sometimes more exercise and a better diet.