NATIONAL SCREENING PROGRAMME FOR DIABETES

Early day motion 699, tabled 27 January 1998 by David Stewart (Labour). Signed by 167 members.

That this House is concerned by the increasing prevalence of diabetes in the United Kingdom; notes with alarm recent figures from the British Diabetic Association which suggests that as many as 1.4 million people in the United Kingdom have undiagnosed diabetes; recognises that most of those with diabetes will have the condition for three to seven years before diagnosis, and that, if undiagnosed and untreated, many will develop serious complications including heart attack, stroke and kidney damage; recognises that diabetes is also the major cause of blindness in the United Kingdom in people aged under 65 years and accounts for 50 per cent. of all non-traumatic lower limb amputations; notes that Scotland has the second highest incidence of diabetes in the world; notes too that many diabetic complications are preventable, and that a simple inexpensive urine test could enable early detection and treatment of diabetes; recognises that the current cost to the NHS of treating diabetes and its complications is ú2.1 billion a year; and therefore calls on the Government to support the introduction of a national screening programme for diabetes, with particular regard to those aged 40 years, overweight and with a family history of diabetes.

Signatures by party: Labour 114, Liberal Democrat 20, Conservative 10, Labour/Co-operative 6, Scottish National Party 5, UUP 5, Plaid Cymru 3, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, UKUP 1, Unknown 1.