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Number of people with
diabetes up has soared in the last decade
THE number of people living with
diabetes in the UK has risen by 59.8% in a decade, according to a new analysis
by Diabetes UK. The new figures, extracted from official NHS data, show that
there are now 3,333,069 people diagnosed with diabetes, which is an increase of
more than 1.2 million adults compared with ten years ago when, in 2005, there
were 2,086,041 people diagnosed with the condition. Diabetes UK 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. At
present only 6 in 10 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, otherwise
poorly managed diabetes can lead to devastating and expensive health
complications such as kidney disease, stroke and amputation. This is why it’s
critical that the government takes urgent action to ensure that everyone with
diabetes receives the eight care processes, reducing their risk of further
health complications and the costs these incur for the already strained NHS
budget. Barbara Young, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK, said:- "Over the
past decade, the number of people living with diabetes in the UK has increased
by over 1 million people, which is the equivalent of the population of a small
country such as Cyprus. With a record number of people now living with diabetes
in the UK, there is no time to waste; the government must act now. 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. Diabetes already costs the NHS
nearly £10 billion a year, and 80% of this is spent on managing avoidable
complications. So there is huge potential to save money and reduce pressure on
NHS hospitals and services through providing better care to prevent people with
diabetes from developing devastating and costly complications. 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." |
