Number of diabetes cases hits record high in UK as experts warn of ‘hidden health crisis'
The number of people with diabetes has reached a record high in the United Kingdom, according to new data that indicates one in five adults now has diabetes or prediabetes.
An estimated 4.6 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes, up from 4.4 million last year, according to the estimates from the charity Diabetes UK, which described the uptick as a “hidden health crisis”.
Another 1.3 million people in the UK have type 2 diabetes, but have not been diagnosed, the report found.
Meanwhile 6.3 million people have prediabetes, which is when blood sugar levels are higher than usual but not enough to be considered diabetes. Prediabetes can be reversed with diet and exercise – but left untreated, can develop into type 2 diabetes.
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The estimates indicate that more than 12 million people in the UK – one in five adults – is affected by either diabetes or prediabetes.
Colette Marshall, Diabetes UK’s chief executive, said more should be done to “find the missing millions who either have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes but are completely unaware of it”.
“The sooner we can find and get them the care they need, the more harm we can prevent,” Marshall said in a statement.
Serious health consequences of diabetes
Diabetes mainly comes in two forms: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong condition where the body’s immune system attacks insulin-producing cells, while type 2 diabetes is when the body does not produce enough insulin or react to it properly.
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About 90 per cent of UK cases are type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity, high blood pressure, and unhealthy diets.
Another 8 per cent have type 1 diabetes and about 2 per cent have other, rarer forms of the condition, the report said.
Diabetes can have serious health consequences, including heart attack, stroke, and problems with the kidneys, eyes, feet, and nerves.
The rising diabetes burden in the UK mirrors trends across Europe and the world. According to global estimates in the Lancet medical journal, 828 million people had diabetes in 2022, an increase of 630 million from 1990.
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Diabetes UK called on the British government to invest in better medical care for diabetes patients, such as support for newly diagnosed people and annual health screenings that can help identify complications early on.
“There must be better care for the millions of people living with all types of diabetes, to support them to live well and fend off the risk of developing devastating complications,” Marshall said.
