Diabetes UK: Diabetes explosion – more than 4 million in the UK to have the condition by 2025

Monday, 09, Jun 2008 12:00

Shocking new figures* reveal that by 2025 there will be more than four million people with diabetes in the UK, warns leading health charity Diabetes UK.

Currently 2.3 million people in the UK are diagnosed with diabetes and more than 500,000 also have the condition but are not aware of it. The dramatic new statistics would mean an additional 1.3 million people with the condition by 2025, the equivalent of a 46% increase, bringing the total number of people with diabetes to an estimated 4.2 million.

Most of the increase will be due to rising numbers of overweight or obese people in the UK: 80% of people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are overweight at the time of diagnosis. The increase will have major consequences on the general health of the UK population as diabetes is a serious condition that can lead to devastating complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney disease and amputation. It will also mean higher costs for the NHS which already spends around £10,000 per minute treating diabetes and its complications.

Douglas Smallwood, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK, said: “These new figures are shocking and confirm that diabetes is one of the main health challenges facing the UK today. Awareness and prevention are crucial if we want to see the number of people with Type 2 diabetes fall. We need to encourage people to reduce their risk of developing the condition by eating healthily, maintaining a healthy weight and leading an active lifestyle.”

To help address the diabetes epidemic and as part of Diabetes Week, 8 – 14 June 2008, Diabetes UK is releasing a series simple steps on how to reduce your risk of Type 2 diabetes.

The five top tips for preventing Type 2 diabetes are:

• Eat well. Eat a healthy balanced diet low in salt, sugar and fat with lots of fruit and vegetables.

• Be physically active. Being physically active can reduce your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by up to 64 per cent.

• Quit smoking. Smoking can lead to high blood pressure which causes heart disease – a significant risk factor for developing Type 2 diabetes.

• Watch your waist. Weight around your waist increases your risk of Type 2 diabetes. If you are male and your waist measures 37 inches or more (or 35 inches or more for men of South Asian origin); or you are female and your waist is 31.5 inches or over, then you could be at risk of Type 2 diabetes.

• Get checked out. Type 2 diabetes can be undetected for up to 12 years, meaning that 50 per cent of people already have serious complications by the time they’re diagnosed. If you have a large waist, are over 40 (or over 25 if you’re Black or Asian) and a close member of your family has diabetes, you should see your doctor for a diabetes test.

Diabetes UK is committed to funding more than £7 million of medical research every year to help find a cure for diabetes. The charity is running a series of fundraising activities throughout Diabetes Week to help raise much needed funds. These will include a fundraising walk in London's Regent’s Park, Walk in the Park, on 8 June 2008. Actress Kym Ryder of Hear’Say and Coronation Street fame is fronting Diabetes UK’s Walk in the Park for the second year running. Anyone wanting more information on how to get involved during Diabetes Week can visit the Diabetes UK website at www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetesweek.

Diabetes UK’s factsheet and top tips are enclosed. To do our online Measure-Up two-minute test to find out if you are at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, please visit our website at www.diabetes.org.uk.

ENDS

For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact Fabienne Jacquet or Naomi Goldberg or Rupi Gohlar at the Diabetes UK press office on 020 7424 1165. For urgent out of hours queries, please call 07711 176 028.

Notes to editor:

*Figures based on PBS Diabetes Prevalence Model Phase 3: key findings, Yorkshire and Humber Public Health Observatory, May 2008. The PSB models estimates that by 2025 there will be 3.6 million people with diabetes in England and that the diabetes prevalence will be 6.48% of the population in England. The total UK figures presented here have been calculated by including forecast for the population of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland which give a total of 4.2 million people with diabetes by 2025.

1 Diabetes UK is the charity for people with diabetes. We fund more than £7 million of research each year, provide information and support to people with diabetes and campaign on their behalf. For further information visit www.diabetes.org.uk.

2 In the UK, there are currently 2.3 million people diagnosed with diabetes. There are more than 500,000 people who have Type 2 diabetes but don’t know it.

3 The cost to the NHS of treating diabetes is £5 billion a year. The cost of tablets for people with diabetes in England is around £130 million.

7 The Diabetes UK Careline (0845 120 2960) offers information and support on any aspect of managing diabetes. The line is a lo-call number and opens Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm (operates a translation service). Recorded information on a number of diabetes-related topics is also available on this number 24 hours a day.

8 Membership of Diabetes UK is from £22 a year with special rates available. In addition to our bi-monthly magazine Balance, members receive support and the latest information on diabetes care and treatments to help them live a healthy life.