United Co-operatives backs diabetes campaign

United Co-operatives, the most successful co-operative society in the country, and a major retailer in Rochdale, as well as having its head office in the town, has decided that Diabetes UK will be its official charity for the next year and the £2 billion sales retailer has pledged to raise at least £150,000 to support the charity’s vital work. 

Figures suggest that in Rochdale 6,306 people have diabetes, with nearly 30 per cent of them unaware they have Type 2 diabetes. With such a statistic, it is vital that local people are made aware that diabetes is serious and can lead to heart disease, blindness, kidney failure and amputations. 

Simon O’Neill, Director of Care and Policy at Diabetes UK, said: “By the time people with Type 2 are diagnosed, around half already have evidence of complications. The sooner people are diagnosed, the sooner they can start taking control of their diabetes and increase their chance of living full and healthy lives.”

Philip Jones, United Co-operatives Secretary, commented: “United is delighted to support this vital cause.  With the help of our staff and members we look forward to some fantastic fund raising events which will not only assist us to achieve our £150,000 target, but exceed it.”

People most at risk of Type 2 diabetes are white people aged over 40 or African-Caribbean and South Asian people over 25, who have a large waistline, are overweight or have a family history of diabetes.

Symptoms of diabetes are:

• Increased thirst
• Icreased urination – especially at night
• Extreme tiredness
• Genital itching or regular episodes of thrush
• Blurred vision
• Weight loss 

If you think that you may have the condition consult a pharmacist or doctor.