With one man in 10 across the country having diabetes, this week (11-17 June 2018) NHS commissioners are urging men to check for signs of the disease.

Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high, and the number of men being diagnosed with the disease is expected to increase sharply over the next 20 years.

NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is backing this campaign as 6,500 people, both men and women across Sefton ‘at risk’ of developing type 2 diabetes, with a further estimated 26,000 yet to be identified.

Men are being encouraged not to ignore these seven symptoms:

• feeling very thirsty
• urinating more frequently than usual, particularly at night
• feeling very tired
• weight loss and loss of muscle bulk
• itching around the penis, or frequent episodes of thrush
• cuts or wounds that heal slowly
• blurred vision

Dr Nigel Taylor, GP and diabetes lead at NHS South Sefton CCG, said: “It's really important that diabetes is diagnosed as early as possible because it will get progressively worse if left untreated.

“If you are diagnosed with diabetes, whether a man or a woman, there is lots of support for you, including our Diabetes Education Programme.’

Free education programmes are on offer to help local people with diabetes to manage their condition.  Provided by Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, ‘Diabetes and You’ is a programme for people who have been newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. ‘Diabetes and More’ is for people who have been living with the condition for more than a year.

Dr Taylor added: “I know that talking about diabetes isn’t always easy but being able to manage your condition properly can have a big impact on your life.  

 “These sessions are free, informal and are a great way of meeting other people who are also keen to learn more about managing their condition. They are held in various venues across south Sefton and at various times throughout the day, including evenings. They’re designed to make living with diabetes as manageable for you as possible.”

To find out more about these programmes or to book directly onto a course, contact the South Sefton Community Diabetes Team by calling 0151 475 4285 or speak to your GP or practice nurse about being referred.

To find out more about diabetes, visit the NHS Choices website: www.nhs.uk/conditions/diabetes