Reports and statistics

Background

Some 2.5 million people in the UK have diabetes and the prevalence is increasing. As the population gets older and obesity levels rise, prevalence will increase further. Already up to 5 per cent of NHS expenditure is spent on diabetes, accounting for over £1 billion per annum.

It is estimated that some 41% of people with diabetes suffer with poor psychological well-being and there is consistent evidence of elevated rates of depression and anxiety disorders. For example, the rate of depression is doubled in people with diabetes compared with controls. Over and above the severe impact of these psychological problems in their own right, the ‘costs’ of untreated depression in diabetes are high. This is due to its negative impact on diabetes self-care and medication adherence, leading to hyperglycaemia and increased complications and healthcare costs, lost productivity and increased mortality. Other specific psychological conditions such as eating disorders, needle phobias and fear of self-injecting also lead to poor glycaemic control and subsequent complications.