INCIDENCE OF DIABETES

That this House notes with alarm the research published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health showing an increase of 74 per cent. in new cases of diabetes between 1997 and 2003; further notes that the overall incidence of diabetes increased from 2.8 per cent. of the population in 1996 to 4.3 per cent. in 2005; acknowledges the author's assertion that the increases in Type 2 diabetes are directly linked to rising obesity rates; and encourages the Government to redouble its efforts to increase public awareness of diabetes and to take urgent action to tackle obesity rates.