Since 2005 the number of people living with diabetes has risen by 59.8% which means over 3.3 million Brits now have the condition. Diabetes UK have uncovered official figures and say the public health situation is spiralling ‘out of control’.
The charity also pointed out that, worryingly, more than a third of sufferers in England and Wales are not getting the eight care processes recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). These processes are recommended to prevent complications of diabetes, such as stroke and amputation.
Chief executive for Diabetes UK, Barbara Young, said the following:
“With a record number of people now living with diabetes in the UK, there is no time to waste – the government must act now.”
She went on to say that it is ‘unacceptable’ that a third of those with diabetes are not getting access to care processes, increasing their risk of developing serious complications.
The charity noted that as well as being a public health concern, poor management of the situation is causing an unnecessary financial burden for the NHS.
“Diabetes already costs the NHS nearly £10bn a year, and 80% of this is spent on managing avoidable complications.”
It is estimated that by 2025, five million people in the UK will have the condition.
Martin McShane, the national medical director for long-term conditions at NHS England commented that the figures are a stark warning and show the rising cost of the condition to the NHS. He also noted evidence that excess calories and added sugar are resulting in avoidable increases in both obesity and diabetes.
“We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, it’s time to get serious about lifestyle change. Prevention is better than treatment for individual health as well as the health on the NHS.”