The number of people with diabetes in the South West would fill Bristol City Football Stadium 11 times over.
According to the latest statistics, the number of people diagnosed with diabetes in the South West has now reached 299,299.
We analysed figures from the Quality and Outcomes Framework 2016-17, which reveal that the number of people who have been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes in the region has increased by 16,446 in a year. Last year, 282,853 were recorded as living with the condition.
Swindon has the highest prevalence of diabetes in the south west, with 182,928 of people living with a diagnosis. This represents 7.41 per cent of the population. Conversely, Bath and North East Somerset has the lowest incidence with 4.97 per cent of the population affected. The national average is 6.6 per cent.
Nationally, the number of people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK has more than doubled in the last twenty years. The new figures show that there are now almost 3.7 million people diagnosed with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes in the UK, an increase of 1.9 million since 1998.
“Unless we act, and urgently, diabetes prevalence will continue to rise. Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are serious conditions that can lead to devastating complications such as amputation, blindness, kidney disease, stroke and heart disease."
Annika Palmer
Our south west regional head Annika Palmer added:
“Type 1 diabetes isn’t currently preventable, but three in five cases of Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with a healthy lifestyle and better understanding of the condition. We need to end the marketing of unhealthy food to children and make sure we all eat more healthily.
“More people who are at high risk of Type 2 diabetes must be identified so that they can get the education, care and support they need to reduce it.”
You can find out more on our Facts and Figures information page.
