Amitabh Bachchan to join Keith Vaz in diabetes appeal

London, Aug 19 (IANS) Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan is to join Indian-origin MP Keith Vaz this week to open the new premises of a diabetes charity in Leicester.

The new building of the Silver Star Appeal will help support the work of the Leicester-based charity which aims to raise awareness about diabetes and provide free blood sugar tests through mobile assessment units.

Hundreds of fans are expected to turn out to see the legendary actor in Leicester, a city that has been dubbed Little India for its large Indian-origin population.

Bachchan is in Britain as part of his global Unforgettable tour.

"It is a great honour to welcome a star of the calibre of Amitabh Bachchan to Leicester to contribute to this important cause, and one which I know will delight all local people," said Vaz who launched the charity after discovering he was diabetic.

There are over 2.2 million people in Britain diagnosed with diabetes but another 750,000 who would have Type 2 diabetes don't yet know it because they have not been tested, experts say.

By 2010 it is estimated that there will be 66,000 people in the county of Leicestershire alone who have undiagnosed diabetes.

Early diagnosis can prevent many people from developing the complications of the condition.

People with Type 2 diabetes are generally diagnosed between 9-12 years after the onset of the condition and it is often only picked up when they are already showing signs of one or more of the related complications: heart disease, blindness, stroke and poor circulation that can lead to lower limb amputation.

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