A recent analysis by charity body Diabetes UK has revealed that a sobering one in five adults in the UK – totalling 12.2 million people – are living with diabetes or pre-diabetes. This includes 4.6 million diagnosed cases, 1.3 million undiagnosed cases, and 6.3 million individuals with pre-diabetes: a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes. Although not diagnosable as diabetes, pre-diabetes can indicate an increased risk of developing the condition, as well as other complications such as heart disease, and stroke.
The surge in diabetes cases is primarily driven by an increase in type 2 diabetes, which accounts for about 90% of all diabetes cases in the UK. The charity say that factors contributing to this rise could include escalating obesity rates and an increasingly shifting diet landscape. Colette Marshall, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK, emphasises, ‘While obesity is not the only factor that increases risk of type 2 diabetes, we’re concerned that the rise in the number of those living with obesity is translating into soaring cases of pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes across the UK.’
Marshall is advocating for bold government action to reform the food environment and promote healthier eating habits. She states, ‘We are seeing increasingly unhealthy diets, driven in part by promotions of foods high in fat, salt and sugar, resulting in unhealthy food often being the easiest option.’ She calls for incentivising healthier food and drink production and expanding measures like the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (commonly known at the sugar tax) to include other high-fat, high-sugar products. ‘Expanding [the sugar tax] to include other food and drink products that are high in fat, salt and sugar, are crucial measures that could make a real difference to the health of the nation.’
Writing in an open letter to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Marshall also made a plea for the government to prioritise supporting those living with diabetes and its related conditions in the governments upcoming 10-year health plan, calling for increased support for NHS schemes. ’It’s critical that much more is done to find the missing millions who either have type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes but are completely unaware of it,” Marshall added.
What Does This Mean For Us?
Understanding these statistics drives home the importance of taking stock of our own health and lifestyle, regular health check-ups and being aware of diabetes risk factors. Early detection of pre-diabetes provides us with an opportunity to make lifestyle changes – such as adopting a more skilful diet and increasing physical activity – that can prevent the progression to type 2 diabetes.
While the analysis provides an overview, it’s important to note that the figures are estimates based on the data currently available. The actual number of individuals with undiagnosed diabetes or pre-diabetes may differ. Additionally, while lifestyle changes are effective preventive measures, individual responses can differ based on genetics and other health factors. Seeking qualified medical guidance, alongside making sustainable lifestyle changes is always advised if you are concerned about your risk factors.
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With almost 18 years in the health and fitness space as a personal trainer, nutritionist, breath coach and writer, Andrew has spent nearly half of his life exploring how to help people improve their bodies and minds.
As our fitness editor he prides himself on keeping Men’s Health at the forefront of reliable, relatable and credible fitness information, whether that’s through writing and testing thousands of workouts each year, taking deep dives into the science behind muscle building and fat loss or exploring the psychology of performance and recovery.
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