Diabetes epidemic will hit 8 million Britons, doctors warn

Millions of Britons are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes

POOR diet and lack of exercise will detonate a diabetes time bomb involving eight million Britons, say experts.

 

New figures show five million adults are at risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Nearly three million already have the disease and fresh evidence shows in some parts of the country as many as one in seven adults is at risk.

Experts warn Britain is at breaking point, with the numbers of sufferers rocketing 60 per cent in 10 years.

It is costing the nation almost £10billion a year and campaigners fear the crisis could bankrupt the NHS.

In light of the findings, health chiefs are to launch a national prevention scheme next year.

Public Health England said that the research, published today, which was compiled by its National Cardiovascular Health Intelligence Network, contains the most accurate figures yet.

Experts studied five years of data about high blood sugar – non-diabetic hyperglycaemia – in adults over the age of 16.

The figures are broken down by local authority for the first time.

Those most at risk live in areas with larger populations of ethnic minorities and older people in general.

The highest-risk area is Harrow, north London, at 14 per cent, followed by Dorset, Wolverhampton and Torbay, where the risk is over 13 per cent.

here are too many people on the cusp of Type 2 diabetes

Professor Jonathan Valabhji, clinical director for diabetes and obesity at NHS England

 

Researchers found that weight loss and healthy living could prevent 26 percent of people with high blood sugar from developing Type 2 diabetes.

People identified through existing blood tests or an NHS health check as being at risk will now be offered a place on the nine-month programme.

Figures suggest the disease already leads to 22,000 early deaths a year.

Duncan Selbie, chief executive of PHE, said: “We know how to lower the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes: lose weight, exercise and eat healthily, but it’s hard to do it alone.

PHE’s evidence review shows that supporting people will help.”

Professor Jonathan Valabhji, clinical director for diabetes and obesity at NHS England, said: “There are too many people on the cusp of Type 2 diabetes.

The growing body of evidence makes us confident that our NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme will reduce the numbers.”

Last night, Barbara Young, chief executive of Diabetes UK, said: “Having high blood glucose levels significantly increases your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, which affects 2.9 million people in England and can lead to blindness, amputations and stroke and ultimately early death.”

“The NHS spends 10 per cent of its entire budget managing diabetes and unless we get better at preventing Type 2 diabetes this figure will rise to unsustainable levels.”