Increase in diabetes sufferers in the UK

The number of people in the UK suffering from diabetes has risen to more than two million, it has been revealed.

According to the latest figures, 1,766,391 people have been diagnosed with the disease in England. Diabetes UK estimated that the number of sufferers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are 148,000, 92,000 and 47,000 respectively.

Diabetes UK said that the English figure was more than a quarter of a million higher than previous estimates. The figures were compiled from GP performance data on the government’s new database, which went live on Wednesday.

Many health experts believe that a rise in the number of cases of obesity in the UK is behind the increase in diabetes. Being overweight or obese is one of the largest causes of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Earlier this year, an increase in the number of children with Type 2 diabetes – which was extremely rare ten years ago – was reported.

The National Obesity Forum said that the figures should act as a “wake-up call” to the NHS and the general public about the “overindulgent lifestyle” of people in the UK.

Simon O’Neill, Director of Care and Policy at Diabetes UK, said: “We knew the situation was worrying, but it is even worse than we thought. Diabetes is serious and unless everyone with the condition is getting the care and education they need, it can lead to heart disease, strokes, kidney disease, amputations and blindness. These increasing numbers are putting a massive strain on the NHS and unless it can respond, people’s health could spiral downwards.”

Diabetes UK is calling on the government to ensure that all people with diabetes, including children, have access to greater structured education to enable them to manage their condition on a day-to-day basis.

(KMcA/SP)