The UK now has more than four million people living with diabetes, according to an analysis.
The total now stands at 4.05 million people, including some 3.5 million people diagnosed as adults, according to Diabetes UK.
The charity said it was the first time the number had passed four million, reflecting soaring rates of type 2 disease.
It obtained the figures from an analysis of GP data collected through the Quality and Outcomes Framework.
Diabetes UK said the number of adults diagnosed with the disease has reached 3.5 million in the last year – a 65% increase in ten years and an increase of 119,965 in a year.
It estimates there are some 549,000 people with undiagnosed type 2 disease.
The charity called for improved education about diabetes and improved care to prevent the complications of blindness, kidney failure and amputation. It warned that just 60% of patients get the eight regular checks identified by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
Chief executive Chris Askew said: “With four million people in the UK now living with diabetes, the need to tackle this serious health condition has never been so stark or so urgent.
“Tragically, we are continuing to see too many people with diabetes suffering serious complications, and even dying before their time, and we know that key reasons for this are that they are being denied both the care and access to education that would help them to manage their condition well.”
Leave a Reply