AN MP has joined forces with the star of a popular television medical drama to encourage people to take a quick and easy diabetes test.
Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson took the test, which is available for free at many pharmacies, at the Silver Star Diabetes Health Challenge in London.
Special guest, Hugh Quarshie, who plays Dr Ric Griffin in the BBC series Holby City, then handed Mr Wilson and other MPS a pedometer.
The MPs will compete to take the most steps on a single day until World Diabetes Day on Friday, November 14.
Every four minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with diabetes and the NHS spends £1 million an hour on diabetes and its related complications.
Silver Star Diabetes is a national charity that raises awareness of diabetes through advocacy and by delivering free diabetes testing and lifestyle advice.
Mr Wilson said: “People in Sedgefield are suffering from diabetes, so it is great that Silver Star Diabetes take action to raise awareness for the condition.
“Helping people lead healthy lifestyles is important, and testing people for diabetes plays a vital step towards achieving that."
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