Study Highlights Lincolnshire’s Coastal Temporary Housing Residents Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

A new report provides important new insights into the health risks that long-term residents using temporary housing on Lincolnshire’s East Coast may experience, with several indicators suggesting significant exposure to risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes.

Researchers at the University of Lincoln, UK, conducted scoping work on Lincolnshire’s East Coast communities, which gave a broad overview of type 2 diabetes risk among ‘residents using temporary housing’ (RUTH).

Diabetes is now one of the leading causes of death worldwide and accounts for a large proportion of the UK health budget. If not managed it can impact a person’s quality of life and reduce length of life.

In the UK, approximately 17% of the population resides in coastal areas and a recent report by the Chief Medical Officer has highlighted the unique health challenges faced by those who live there.

Housing that has been used historically for tourism and holiday makers – including caravans and the chalets – are now being used by local Lincolnshire’s East Coastal communities’, in the towns of Mablethorpe and Skegness in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire.

Global Professor in Rural Health and Social Care at Lincoln International Institute for Rural Health, University of Lincoln, Mark Gussy said: “This is the first study of its kind that has looked in detail at the health and wellbeing of caravan park residents on Lincolnshire’s East Coast.”

“We have been able to identify some important place-based influences on health and ill-health. This work will form the basis of our ongoing engagement with the communities on the East Coast.”

Collective findings found that amongst the most deprived in the country, those residing in temporary accommodation were often older than the rest of the population, which could mean there is high health and care needs, higher multiple chronic health conditions and high levels of limiting long-term illness and disability.

Despite this, local evidence suggested that connection and use of health and social care services were poor, meaning residents missed out on services for prevention or early management of type 2 diabetes.