POOLE Hospital has marked the 20th anniversary of its diabetes centre at a time when more people are stricken with the metabolic disease than ever.

The Daily Echo reported the opening of the unit on September 21, 1994, after a ceremony was held to launch the new offering.

Two decades later diabetes specialist Dr Wendy Gatling was joined by patients and staff members, past and present, to unveil a plaque and cut a cake in honour of the landmark.

“When the diabetes centre opened it was the first time that the whole team were in one place together,” said Dr Gatling.

“Previously we had been scattered all over the place and it was just magic to have everybody here in one place. Sparks flew and we did so much more because we were together.

“Things have changed a lot in 20 years, tremendously so - the introduction of things like insulin pumps, development of the foot clinic and the diabetic eye screening programme that runs throughout Dorset.”

One of the centre’s youngest users, four-year-old Arley Forbes, was given the honour of unveiling the plaque and speeches were delivered by chief executive Debbie Fleming and the trust’s vice chair Dame Yvonne Moores.

Dr Mike Masding, consultant physician in diabetes, said the town needs a specialist centre such as this more than ever.

“We have seen an increase in the number of patients with both type one and type two diabetes,” he added.

“Five per cent of people in Dorset have diabetes, which is about the same as everywhere else. However, when I started 12 years ago the prevalence in Dorset was two per cent so there have been big changes.

“This is because the population has got older and more obese, but there is also an unexplained increase in type one diabetes, which is not related to being obese - and no one knows why that is.”