Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

File on 4

Documentaries

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Factual: Politics

Award-winning current affairs documentary series

Award-winning current affairs documentary series investigating major issues at home and abroad

BBC Radio 4 FM

File on 4: Diabetes

Factual

Diabetes

21/02/2012

BBC Radio 4 - File on 4, Diabetes

Despite pledges to tackle diabetes, why do 24,000 people die needlessly each year?

Diabetes costs the NHS nine billion pounds and causes over 70,000 deaths a year in England, of which up to 24,000 may be preventable. Julian O'Halloran investigates.

New NHS research has revealed the shocking toll of preventable deaths caused by just one medical condition. Diabetes - in which the body fails to control blood sugar levels safely - is causing 24,000 needless deaths a year in England alone. 

It's not just the old and middle-aged who are at risk. Young women with diabetes are 6 to 9 times more likely to die than their age group overall. And many more young people who don't die will develop life threatening diseases later due to failure to manage their blood sugar. 

Badly controlled diabetes can lead to kidney disease, heart conditions, or blindness. It's also the cause of 5,000 amputations a year, mainly of legs or feet. With around 3 million diagnosed sufferers known to the health service, diabetes is said to be costing the NHS £9 billion a year, about a tenth of the total health budget. 

Julian O'Halloran reveals why, despite Government pledges, it's so difficult to get to grips with the disease. And, with the incidence of diabetes rocketing, he asks whether the NHS can cope.

Producer - Gail Champion.

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

File on 4

Diabetes

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4