One in five UK adults has diabetes or pre-diabetes

One in five UK adults are living with diabetes or pre-diabetes as diagnoses have reached an all-time high, data shows.

- RACHEL CLUN

Charity Diabetes UK called this a “hidden health crisis” and urged the government to act immediately. Some 4.6 million people are now diagnosed with the condition, compared to 4.4 million a year ago.

This includes about 8 per cent with type 1 diabetes, which happens when a person cannot produce insulin, a hormone that helps the body turn glucose into energy.

Some 90 per cent have type 2 diabetes, which happens when the body does not use insulin properly, while 2 per cent have different and rarer forms of the condition. A further 1.3 million are estimated to be living with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes UK estimated a further 6.3 million people are living with non-diabetic hyperglycaemia, some of whom do not know they have the condition.

More commonly known as pre-diabetes, the condition causes higher than normal blood sugars and if untreated can develop into type 2 diabetes.

The chief executive of the charity, Colette Marshall, said: “These latest figures highlight the hidden health crisis we’re facing in the UK and underline why the government must act now.

“There must be better care for the millions of people living with all types of diabetes, to support them to live well and fend off the risk of developing devastating complications.