Catherine holding a sign which reads "Diabetes is serious"

Catherine McKinnell, Member of Parliament for Newcastle North, has shown her support for people living with diabetes in Parliament alongside Diabetes UK. 

Diabetes UK’s new “Diabetes Is Serious” campaign, highlights the challenges facing the five million people living with diabetes in the UK.

The report includes shocking new figures showing that there were 7,000 excess deaths connected to diabetes in 2022, 13% higher than expected. Diabetes UK expressed fears that the increase may be linked to the backlog in routine diabetes care caused by the Covid-19 pandemic when services faced huge disruptions.

The charity is calling on the Government to put diabetes care at the heart of the Major Conditions Strategy to restore these checks to reduce early mortality, prevent people developing devastating diabetes complications and to reduce pressure on the NHS.

Analysis undertaken by Diabetes UK has shown that over 184,000 people have been diagnosed with the condition in the North East alone, up by more than 7,000 compared to this time last year.

Clare Howarth, Head of the North of England at Diabetes UK said: “We are so grateful to Catherine McKinnell MP for attending our event in Parliament. Her support has helped us to raise the voice of people living with diabetes among key stakeholders and decision makers.”

Catherine McKinnell, MP for Newcastle North said: “This was a really important event highlighting both the prevalence of diabetes, and the serious impact it can have on people’s health and wellbeing.

“I am proud to support the campaign, and to push the Government to ensure that people living with diabetes have access to the care and support they need.”

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