THE shocking statistics for the diabetes mortality rate on Merseyside and Cheshire make grim reading. It is astonishing to think that one in nine deaths across the region is down to this treatable condition.

Diabetes has been singled out as one of the biggest health challenges the UK health service faces, simply because of its scale. A worryingly large proportion of the North West’s population – 280,000 people – has been diagnosed with diabetes, but there are an estimated 65,000 more sufferers who do not even know they have it.

According to Diabetes UK, figures show over 11% of deaths among 20 to 79- year-olds in the area in 2005 were caused by diabetes – and Knowsley has the dubious honour of topping that particular chart.

Of course, Knowsley’s poor standing in a number of national health league tables has been well documented, and it is something local health chiefs are attempting to address.

But when it comes to diabetes, some of the responsibility must like with the sufferer as well.

For, often those diagnosed with the condition simply fail to amend their lifestyles so they can minimise the risk to themselves. By their refusal to accept their condition, and adapt to it, they are placing a huge burden on our increasingly-stretched health service.

According to Diabetes UK, good self- management, awareness and better access to specialist care are vital. But it is interesting that sufferer Barrie Mor- gan says simply persuading sufferers to lead more healthier lives could radically curtail the diabetes death rate.

This is an illness which the sufferer can influence to a certain extent, if they are prepared to make the effort. The tragedy is that many of them are simply not doing that.

Diabetes does not need to be a death sentence; those diagnosed can lead fulfilling, normal lives, often by making just a few simple changes – just as Barrie Morgan has shown. Others would do well to follow his example; if not for their own sake, then for their loved ones.