New figures released last month show people living with diabetes in the UK has soared by 59.8 per cent in a decade.
Official NHS data from the Quality and Outcomes Framework, show that there are now over 3.3 million people diagnosed with diabetes, compared to just over 2 million in 2005, an increase of more than 1.2 million adults.
There are an additional 590,000 adults estimated to have undiagnosed diabetes in 2013-2014.
Diabetes UK, who carried out the analysis, is warning that this exponential growth in numbers reflects an urgent need for effective care for people living with diabetes, as well as highlighting the importance of prevention and that failure to act on this threatens to bring down the NHS.
The charity said in June this year that levels in north Kirklees were rising faster than in other parts of the district, highlighting Dewsbury as a hotspot, and said the increase was twice the national average.
North Kirklees saw 798 new cases of the disease diagnosed last year – a 7.2 per cent increase – more than double the 3.2 per cent national average. Type 2 diabetes is especially prevalent in the south Asian community.
Health experts say a better diet and exercise can significantly reduce the symptoms, but Diabetes UK feel much more needs to be done urgently.
The charity said at present only six in ten people with diabetes in England and Wales receive the eight care processes recommended by the National Institute for Health Care and Excellence (NICE). These are the checks identified as essential in high quality care for people with diabetes and include getting blood pressure and blood glucose levels measured, as well as the kidney function monitored. The charity says poorly managed diabetes can lead to devastating and expensive health complications such as kidney disease, stroke and amputation.
Barbara Young, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK, said
“We need to see more people with diabetes receiving the eight care processes recommended by NICE. It is unacceptable that a third of people living with the condition do not currently get these, putting them at increased risk of developing complications, such as amputations, heart attack or stroke.
“The NHS must prioritise providing better care, along with improved and more flexible education options, for people with diabetes now, and give them the best possible chance of living long and healthy lives. Until then, avoidable human suffering will continue and the costs of treating diabetes will continue to spiral out of control and threaten to bankrupt the NHS. Now is the time for action.”
