Experts say diabetes cases have doubled in 15 years and that five million Britons now have the condition

New figures have revealed that the number of diabetes patients in the UK has doubled to five million in fifteen years and that nearly 4.1 million have been diagnosed with the condition, compared with just over two million in 2004/05.

According to charity Diabetes UK, an additional 850,000 people are believed to have the Type 2 form of the illness without knowing.

With studies revealing that Type 2 patients are twice as likely to die from Covid-19, as well as suggestions that vaccines could be less effective, experts are saying that taking action has never been so important.

Chief executive of Diabetes UK Chris Askew, has said “The number of people with diabetes is increasing year on year. As we look to the future post Covid-19, preventing cases of Type 2 diabetes must be a public health priority. The pandemic has shown with devastating clarity how diabetes puts you at increased risk of poorer outcomes when contracting the virus.

“Yet we know that with the right support, up to half of Type-2 diabetes cases 0 and the accompanying risk of developing life-threatening complications – can be delayed or prevented.”

The numbers of new diagnoses have risen by 150,000 in the last twelve months, with official cases having risen to 4,072,362. However, the true total for those living with the disease is estimated to be around 4.9 million, with many unaware they have it.

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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