One Million People In UK Unaware They Have Type 2 Diabetes

01/07/2010

Medical News Today, Article Date: 30 Jun 2010

More than one million people in the UK are now thought to have undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes, double the previous estimate.

New figures from Diabetes Health Intelligence, a strategic programme of Yorkshire and Humber Public Health Observatory, suggest 820,000 adults in England with diabetes are undiagnosed. Based on this model, Diabetes UK estimates that the figure rises to just over a million (1.1 million) when applied to the UK and we could see the total UK diabetes population reach 5.5 million by 2030.

Truly alarming

Douglas Smallwood, Diabetes UK Chief Executive, said: "This new estimate of a million cases of undiagnosed Type 2 cases in the UK is truly alarming. Whilst screening of at risk groups has started, notably through the NHS Health Checks programme, it is clear there needs to be greater emphasis on successful delivery throughout the country.

"We urgently also need to improve diabetes prevention and awareness programmes around the country, coupled with vastly improved support for people to change their behaviours. Avoidable in so many cases, the Type 2 diabetes epidemic is a clear example of where the new government's rhetoric of tackling health problems through prevention must be turned into action. Failure to act now means a bleak future of spiralling NHS costs and worsening public health."

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