The level of diabetes diagnoses is at its highest ever, as is the number of people at risk of diabetes. Around 3.2 million people were registered as having diabetes in England and Wales in 2016-17, with around 3.7 million diagnosed across the whole UK. The increase was almost 100,000 on the previous year.1,2

Adding in non-diagnosed cases, Diabetes UK estimates 4.6 million people are living with diabetes, more than double the 1.9 million cases in 1998. Diabetes UK’s current projection is that “if nothing changes, more than five million people will have diabetes in the UK by 2025.”1

In addition, Diabetes UK estimates that currently 12.3 million people are at increased risk of type 2 diabetes. “With the right lifestyle interventions, as many as three in five cases of type 2 diabetes could be delayed or prevented altogether,” it said.

Potential burden

The British Heart Foundation highlighted the potential consequences of this upward trend in August 2018. Its new analysis indicates that the growing diabetes epidemic could trigger a 29 per cent increase in heart attacks and strokes over the next two decades.3

“The forecast reveals that the growing number of people with diabetes could result in nearly 39,000 people living with diabetes suffering a heart attack in 2035 – a rise of 9,000 compared to 2015 – and over 50,000 people suffering a stroke – a rise of 11,000,” it said. The rise in diabetes cases will also increase the number of people living with angina and heart failure.

Increased morbidity will “put an unprecedented burden on the NHS, with previous estimates suggesting the yearly cost of treating people with diabetes will be £16.9 billion by 2035, up from £9.8 billion in 2012,” said the BHF.

Diabetes UK commented: “The complications of diabetes can be harrowing, but people can greatly reduce their risk of developing them, and should be supported to achieve good management of their blood glucose, blood pressure and blood fats, and to seek help to stop smoking.”