MEDICAL staff are reaching out to the 1,100 dales residents they estimate are silent sufferers of an incurable condition.

GP practices in the Durham Dales Primary Care Trust (PCT) are improving services for the 2,617 diabetic patients already registered.

But they predict there could be another 1,124 people who do not know they have diabetes because it can exist for as long as ten years without symptoms.

Treating and educating diabetics is important because it can cause long-term complications, such as problems with eyes, feet and kidneys.

Trust managers are concerned because the number of cases being diagnosed is increasing every year, in children as well as adults.

Up to 90 per cent of cases are Type 2 diabetes, which generally occurs in people over 40 and is strongly associated with obesity. It can also run in families. Type 1 diabetes affects children and people under 40 and can only be treated with insulin.

PCT chief executive And-rew Kenworthy aims to make sure that every sufferer is identified and has created a group to improve services.

He said: "GP practices in the area have already set up specialist clinics for people with diabetes and we have been working with local nursing and residential homes to raise awareness of symptoms and find ways to improve management of the condition."

Common signs of diabetes are being thirsty and drinking more than usual, going to the toilet frequently, particularly through the night, weight loss, especially in type 1, and feeling tired.

Those with symptoms should go to their GP for their blood-sugar level to be tested.