A new campaign to identify diabetes sufferers in Bradford has been outlined, after it was revealed more than 45,000 are at risk of developing the condition.

Bradford Beating Diabetes, a new project from Bradford City Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), will potentially involve 27 GP practices in the city centre area.

The project, which officially begins on Thursday, November 14, to coincide with World Diabetes Day, will run until March 2015 providing patient screening and lifestyle interventions.

Dr Adeel Iqbal, who is in charge of the project, said: “The idea is not to raise anxiety for people, it is to create awareness and education around this condition. But we think it may be up to 45,000 who should be assessed. That is the scale we are looking at.”

At a meeting of the CCG’s governing body yesterday, the group heard from diabetes sufferers Mohammed Khaliq, 45, and Javid Akhtar, 67, who both emphasised the need for early diagnosis and treatment.

“Both my parents were diabetic so I knew there was a chance I could be at risk, but I felt well so didn’t realise there was any problem,” said Mr Khaliq. “I would have liked to have been offered tests at an earlier age.”

According to data compiled by the Health and Social Care Information Centre, as of September 30 Bradford City CCG had 7,638 people over the age of 17 diagnosed as diabetic. This prevalence rate of 9.1 per cent is above the national average of 5.8 per cent and above the overall rate for the Bradford district of 8.1 per cent.

A Bradford City CCG report also estimates there are more than 1,600 undiagnosed diabetics in the catchment area, with a further 45,000 people classed as at risk.

Dr Akram Khan, the CCG clinical chairman and a diabetic himself, said: “Diabetes can affect anyone, but understanding what can be done to prevent it and raising awareness can really alert people to how they can lead a healthier life.

“The campaign is a way of putting a local spotlight on the condition and helping family doctors to target people who are at risk or have been diagnosed.”

Phase one of the programme will involve GPs contacting people already known to be at significant risk of developing diabetes, reassessing their needs and offering an intensive lifestyle change intervention.

Phase two, to be rolled out next year, will concentrate on raising public awareness of the condition and inviting people to undergo an initial assessment.

Diabetes reduces life expectancy by ten years and is the most common cause in the UK of blindness, kidney failure and non-traumatic lower limb amputation. People with diabetes are also five times more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease or strokes.

Lifestyle changes such as increasing physical activity, maintaining weight loss and dietary improvements can prevent or delay the onset of the condition.