Prime Minister opens new Diabetes UK office

Prime Minister Theresa May has opened a new Diabetes UK office on World Diabetes Day (WDD) to mark the global campaign.

The new premises is located at the Wells Lawrence House in Whitechapel and was named after the two founders of Diabetes UK, the author HG Wells and his doctor Robert Lawrence.

Prime Minister Rt.Hon. Theresa May MP met with the charity’s staff and volunteers and unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion.

Diabetes UK chief executive Chris Askew and the Prime Minister discussed support for people living with type 1 diabetes, how to raise awareness of potential complications and what is being done to tackle the rise in number of people living with type 2 diabetes.

‘Life-threatening complications’

Chris Askew said: “The opening of our new building marks a new chapter in how we combat the crisis in diabetes, and we thank the Prime Minister for joining us. We need others to take her lead in finding out about how we tackle the fastest-growing epidemic of our time and what its serious, life-threatening complications mean for people and the NHS.

“Significant investment in diabetes care and prevention by UK and national governments and the NHS is beginning to recognise the scale of the challenge.

“This needs to be sustained to provide enough effective care for everyone living with diabetes and tackling the rapid rise of type 2 diabetes.”

In 2013 Ms May was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Since then, she has always insisted the condition would not impact her ability to do her job as the country’s second female Prime Minister.

Her case is quite rare, as type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed before the age of 40. The condition is more commonly associated with children.

Speaking to Diabetes UK in 2014 she said: “My very first reaction was that it’s impossible because at my age you don’t get it.”

She told the charity the diagnosis had come as a “shock” but that she had gradually learnt to live with it and to be very open about it.