MEDICS have warned diabetes cases in south Essex are set to rocket even further as people are getting fatter.

Figures from Diabetes UK have revealed 172 more people in Southend are living with diabetes than a year ago.

Across Essex, the number of cases has risen by more than 2,000 in the past year, with the surge attributed to more people being overweight and developing 2 diabetes.

It is feared the numbers will continue to rise in the coming years as the obesity crisis grows.

Sharon Roberts, Diabetes UK’s regional manager for the Eastern region, said: “It is alarming the number of people with diabetes in Southend has gone up by 172 in a single year and addressing this situation needs to be one of the top health priorities in the area.

“Given the increase in cases is mainly due to a sharp rise in type 2 diabetes, we need to get much better at preventing cases of type 2 by encouraging people to be active and healthy, and lose weight.

“A vital first step towards this is to ensure both that people realise how serious it is and also that they understand their own personal risk so that if they are at high risk they can make the lifestyle changes that can help prevent it.”

The figures mean there are now 10,450 people in Southend who are thought to have diabetes, up from 10,278 in 2012.

This equates to some 7.7 per cent of the borough’s population.

In Essex there are thought to now be 85,235 diabetics, compared to 83,188 in 2012.

Those more at risk of contracting diabetes are people over 40, or anyone over 25 from a South Asian background.

People who have close family members with diabetes are also more at risk.

Dr Philip Kelly, consultant diabetologist at Southend Hospital, said: “There is no doubt the main reason for the increase in the incidence of diabetes is the increased numbers who are overweight or obese.

“Diabetes is very common but many people do not know they have it, so the increase in the number of patients diagnosed is excellent news from the point of view of identifying patients.

“Earlier diagnosis is very important and beneficial. These latest figures mean that more people are being treated for the disease rather than remaining in ignorance.

“Most of these patients will be diagnosed by our excellent primary care colleagues.

“There is no doubt that our diabetes services in the community are under pressure, and our diabetes specialist nurses within the hospital have never been busier as many patients in hospital have diabetes and our diabetes nurses see and help as many as they can.

“More generally we have however, become very good at preventing complications that can shorten the duration and quality of patients’ lives; patients are living longer and living better and we are delighted with these successes.”

Diabetes can lead to devastating health complications such as blindness, amputation, stroke and heart attacks, and ultimately to early death.

Dr Kelly added: “The main problem with diabetes is that it increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and GPs are increasingly spotting these patients through routine checks.

“As with many conditions, the earlier you treat diabetes, the better.

"You can potentially change the natural course of the condition.

Serious complications of diabetes involving the eyes, feet and kidneys are potentially preventable.

In some cases, it can even be cured in the early stages.

Earlier and more intensive management of obesity is critical and often overlooked.”

People can have a risk check at a Tesco pharmacy, GP surgery, or at www.diabetes.org.uk/risk