Diabetes Explosion to hit UK

New figures suggest that by 2025, there will be 3.6 million people with diabetes in England, that’s 6.5% of the population.

Charity Diabetes UK are blaming unhealthy diets and a lack of exercise. Sufferers are at risk of heart disease blindness, kidney disease and amputation.

“This is the generation who may well be the ones who die before their parents.”

When the data for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is added experts predict there will be 4.2 million people with diabetes in the UK – a rise of 46% on current figures.
The NHS is estimated to spend around £10,000 per minute treating diabetes and its complications.

Smallwood said: “These new figures are shocking and confirm diabetes is one of the main health challenges facing the UK.”

Tam Fry, board member of the National Obesity Forum, said: “The real tragedy of this increase in diabetes Type 2 is that so many of them will be children with what is essentially a mid-life condition.

“This is the generation who may well be the ones who die before their parents.”