Diabetes experts are setting off on shopping trips in a bid to raise awareness in Airedale and Craven.

Specialist dietitians are offering guided tours of supermarkets to encourage healthy eating and highlight danger symptoms.

Between two and three per cent of the population are diagnosed with diabetes, but the true level is estimated to be double.

Prevalent in Bradford and Airedale, the disease often strikes poor communities and the Asian and Afro-Caribbean population.

Symptoms include increased thirst, passing a lot of urine, extreme tiredness, weight loss, recurrent infections and blurred vision.

But Airedale diabetes specialist dietitian, Lesley Bloomer, said they were often ignored or went unnoticed.

She said: "The symptoms are not clear. Sometimes, they are a bit insiduous - diabetics feel they are tired, but can put it down to the fact they are getting old. If people are thirsty, they put it down to hot weather. They are not diagnosed until it gets to the point when these symptoms have become intolerable.

"There are a lot of misconceptions about diabetics - people think they should only eat certain foods, but that is not necessarily the case.

"They should have a healthy diet with lots of fruit and vegetables, plenty of starchy food, lots of fibre and low fat levels. The aim of the shopping trips is to show people the best things to buy for a healthy diet."

Although diabetes cannot be cured, treatment can reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, circulation problems and damage to kidneys, eyes and nerves.

As well as a healthy eating plan, sufferers are advised to take regular exercise and medication to achieve normal blood sugar and blood pressure levels.

The first tour was held at 10.30am at Safeways in Bingley today. Further visits are planned for Sainsbury's in Keighley on November 27 and Booths supermarket, Ilkley and Skipton Tescos on November 28.

Throughout the month-long awareness campaign, diabetes information will be posted in GP surgeries across Airedale and Craven. The Airedale Diabetes Resource Centre at Airedale General Hospital, Steeton will hold an open day between 2pm and 8pm on November 21, including presentations on latest research and representatives from Diabetes UK and Airedale Primary Care Trust.

To book a trip, contact the centre on (01535) 294390.