Diabetes screening pilot in Glasgow proving successful

South Asians living in Glasgow who are at risk of developing diabetes are being identified and advised on how to lower their risk as part of a major diabetes screening project.
Since April 2011, six GP practices in the South Side and West End of the city have been trialling the screening programme for people aged between 35 and 64 in the ethnic minority group.
During this period more than 900 health checks have been carried out on patients deemed to be at greater risk of type 2 diabetes, which is strongly linked to obesity and is also more common in people of South Asian origin.
In fact, the chance of developing type 2 diabetes among this group is estimated to be 6 times higher than in Europeans.
In many cases, the health tests have led to early detection and treatment of type 2 diabetes symptoms, which include frequent urination, fatigue, dry mouth, increased hunger, blurred vision, sudden weight change and slow healing of wounds.
As a result, many people from the city’s South Asian community have been prevented from becoming a type 2 diabetic and developing diabetes-related complications.