Richard Harrington, MP for Watford, is working in partnership with The Michael Green Foundation and a group of local pharmacies to raise awareness of diabetes.
Drop in to any of these pharmacies on the day – they are offering tests and friendly chats about the risk or management of diabetes.
Chemilab Pharmacy
103 North Approach, Watford
WD25 0EL
Cassiobury Pharmacy
53 Langley Way, Watford
WD17 3EA
Leavesden Pharmacy
14 Katherine Place, Abbots Langley
WD5 0BT
Hintons Pharmacy
88 High Street, Town Centre, Watford
WD18 1AW
JP Pharmacy
Retail Unit B, Attenborough Court,
Owen’s Square, Watford
WD19 4FN
Meriden Pharmacy
Harvest End, Watford
WD25 9UB
Tudorken Limited
364 St Albans Road, Watford
WD24 6PQ
Asda Pharmacy
Odhams Trading Est, St Albans Rd, Watford
WD24 7RT
Abbots Langley Pharmacy
78 High Street, Abbots Langley
WD5 0AW
John Davis Pharmacy
21 Upton Road, Watford
WD18 0JL
Diabetes is a common condition which is caused when the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood is high. This can be the result of the pancreas producing insufficient insulin or the tissues of the body being unable to use it properly. 90% of these cases are Type-2 diabetes, leaving only 10% of cases as Type-1 diabetes. There are around 3.2 million people living with diabetes across the UK and the numbers are increasing - NHS hospitals treat around 2,800 patients with diabetes each year and approximately 17% of all inpatients have the condition.
The diabetes campaign aims to raise awareness of the condition and to improve the way people access information on how to manage the illness. Richard visited the Michael Clements Diabetes Centre last month and saw the unit’s diabetes educational kitchen, which opened in December last year. The kitchen, one of the first of its kind in the country, allows NHS staff to work with patients with diabetes to educate them on the different ways in which they can control their own weight and blood sugar levels.
Mr Harrington is Patron of The Michael Green Foundation, a charity which raised the funds to sponsor the diabetes educational kitchen. The charity was set up by Michael Green’s family after he passed away from a heart attack due to Type-2 diabetes in December 2012.
Mr Harrington said: “The Michael Green Foundation has been working hard to raise awareness of diabetes in Watford and Three Rivers, and through their fundraising have enabled a diabetes kitchen to be opened at Watford General Hospital. This is very welcome and, as Patron of the charity, I am keen to help further. The UK is facing a huge increase in the number of people with diabetes so any new innovative ways to create awareness and educate people are very important.”
