Preventing the Type 2 diabetes epidemic
A Diabetes UK report 2009
Policy and Care Improvement team, Diabetes UK, 2009
"An estimated seven million people in the UK currently have prediabetes. Also known as Impaired Glucose Regulation (IGR), this often reversible and under-diagnosed precursor condition puts people up to 15 times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes.
"People with prediabetes often have the chance to reverse both the condition and their chances of going on to develop Type 2 diabetes by up to 60 per cent simply through losing even just a moderate amount of weight, adopting a healthy, balanced diet and increasing physical activity levels.
"Once diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, people have a reduced life expectancy, are at increased risk of devastating long-term complications and will often need to take medication for the rest of their lives.
"There are currently 2.6 million people in the UK diagnosed with diabetes, the majority of whom have Type 2 diabetes. Approximately 10 per cent of NHS spending goes on diabetes and its complications; this equates to £9 billion per year or £1 million an hour.
"Diabetes UK wants to see the recognition, identification, diagnosis and effective treatment of prediabetes made a top-level priority for the Government, healthcare professionals and general public if we are to stand any chance of defusing the ticking timebomb of Type 2 diabetes."
Douglas Smallwood
Diabetes UK Chief Executive
October 2009