EXPERTS from Southampton have joined forces to improve the life of diabetics.

Next week the city will host a unique diabetes event that will see an army of experts and clinicians under one roof to offer specialist advice to arm people with new tools and techniques so that they can live life to the full.

Nearly 70,000 in Hampshire and Southampton are currently suffering with the condition, while an additional 18,500 are living totally unaware that they have it, according to latest figures from Diabetes UK.

If left unmanaged and untreated, the condition can lead to devastating consequences, in-cluding blindness, amputations and even death in the most serious of cases.

The aim of the Diabetes Wellness Day is to learn how to best self-manage the condition through exercise, diet and regular health checks to prevent debilitating effects and saving the NHS millions.

A total of ten per cent of the NHS budget is spent on diabetes, with £1.5m an hour spent on treating those with the condition.

Dr Mayank Patel, consultant physician at Southampton General Hospital, said: “Not all patients can be seen regularly by a diabetes specialist. Patients live with diabetes day in day out.

“Access to high quality education, of an appropriate standard in an appropriate setting, is fundamental if we are to get successful patient engagement.

“Education is absolutely pivotal if we are to successfully support and empower patients to take charge or their diabetes as much as is possible.”

The event, hosted by the Diabetes Research Wellness Foundation at the Novotel Hotel on Saturday, will give people the chance to quiz the experts from local healthcare teams, take part in a Pilates demonstration and visit exhibitions of the latest information.

Lee Calladine, event co-coordinator, said: “It will provide a unique opportunity to access a wealth of expertise.

“We hope everyone leaves with new tools and skills and with a greater understanding, so they can live life to the full.”