Diabetes : the hidden killer.

This programme explores type 2 diabetes and the impact this is having on the British public and the NHS. We follow multiple patients from Birmingham Heartlands Hospital over the course of 6 months, as they deal with the various complications that can result from diabetes. John Westwood has been living with type 2 diabetes for several years, and has now developed gangrene in his foot and needs an amputation. Mr Martin Claridge, Clinical Director of Vascular Surgery at the hospital, explains how this has occurred. The hospital has built a diabetes centre to deal with the epidemic, and Clinical Director Dr Srikanth Bellary describes the increase in patients over the years. One patient, Jon OHagan, has been having difficulty with the dietary restrictions. He now relies on medication to control his blood sugar levels. Meanwhile, the first stage of John Westwoods amputation is successful. Sharon Barnet, who has been living with diabetes for 9 years, is worried about the complications that may develop as a result of the disease. She has opted for bariatric surgery, and begins the necessary diet in preparation. Dr Jyoti Baharani, Clinical Director of Renal Medicine, discusses the effect that type 2 diabetes can have on the kidneys. Annette Dodds, a kidney failure nurse specialist in the Renal Department, visits the home of former cricketer John Jameson. He was diagnosed with diabetes 12 years ago and his kidney function has begun to deteriorate, so she has come to explain how kidney dialysis works. But it is not just adults who live with type 2 diabetes. Until 16 years ago there had never been a case of a diagnosis in a child in the UK, but there are now over 500. 15 year old Ameer Humza is living with diabetes, and struggling to keep his glucose levels down. Professor Timothy Barrett of Birmingham Childrens Hospital and Professor Julian Hamilton-Shield of the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children have been studying the case of every child with type 2 diabetes in the UK. They have realised that type 2 in children may have far more aggressive complications than in adults. Another patient, Norma Edmunds, has had both feet removed due to diabetes but is now back in hospital with an infection. Professor Andrew Bradbury, a vascular surgeon, explains that they will have to amputate her leg above the knee. We return to Jon, who has decided to opt for weight loss surgery and will be having a gastric bypass to reduce his food consumption. Mr Raj Nijjar, an upper gastrointestinal surgeon, explains the procedure. Meanwhile Sharon is about to undergo surgery, and her surgeon Markos Daskalakis discusses how bariatric surgery could significantly improve the lives of people with type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes currently costs the NHS £10.3 billion, 10% of its annual budget, and clinical director Dr Srikanth Bellary explains the benefits that bariatric surgery could have to both people and the NHS. Dr Philip Schuppler, a GP at Swanswell Medical Centre, talks about how hard it is to care for the increasing numbers of diabetes patients. Finally we return to Norma once again, who has been rehabilitating after the operation. John Westwood is learning to walk without his leg, while Jon OHagan is dieting in preparation for surgery. Ameer has improved his diet and medication regime, while Sharon has lost weight and her blood sugar has reached normal non-diabetic levels.