Diabetes support in Southend
- Healthwatch Southend
- Nov 28
- 2 min read
Diabetes affects many people in the UK, including Southend-on-Sea.
About 7.4% of people here had diabetes in 2024, this is just below the national average.
Some people have a higher chance of getting diabetes because of where they live or their situation. Around 10.7% of people in this area live in some of the most disadvantaged parts of England. This can make health problems harder to manage.
And people with South Asian, Black African and Caribbean backgrounds are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
There are different types of diabetes.
Type 1 happens when the body stops making insulin.
Type 2 is the most common, here the body does not make enough insulin or does not use it well.
Gestational diabetes can happen during pregnancy and usually goes away after birth.
It helps to spot symptoms early, common signs are:
Feeling very thirsty
Going to the toilet more often
Feeling tired all the time
Losing weight without trying
If you notice these, speak to your GP who will be able to advise you next steps.
Type 2 diabetes can often be managed with healthy habits, medicine, and checking blood sugar.
Getting help early is important - when people can reach health services easily, they are more likely to get checked sooner.
This can find high blood sugar or high blood pressure before they cause bigger problems.
Local support is available:
For more information about diabetes symptoms and treatment visit the NHS website
The type 2 pathway to remission of diabetes is a free programme to support people with diabetes to lose weight and reduce sugar levels, this is provided by Momenta
The Healthier you programme is for people who are prediabetic and aims to prevent this from developing to a diabetes diagnosis
South East Essex Type 1 (SEET1) support group is affiliated with Diabetes UK, they run a Facebook group and can be emailed for more information
If you have an experience of accessing support for diabetes in Southend that you would like to share, get in touch with us at info@HealthwatchSouthend.co.uk or telephone 01702 416320
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