Diabetes
Overview
 | Diabetes is a health condition of increasing concern. The prevalence of diabetes is increasing as obesity levels increase and overall physical activity levels remain low. Diabetes is caused by too much glucose in the blood, which can cause damage to nearly the whole body. There are two types: Type I (usually affecting children and young people) where cells producing insulin are destroyed, and Type II where the body does not respond well to its own insulin. Type II accounts for 90% of all diabetes. It is linked to:
- Increasing age
- Ethnic origin
- Family history
- Increasing levels of obesity and overweight
- Low levels of physical activity
- Calorie intake from food
- Socio-economic deprivation
- Gestational diabetes (occurring during pregnancy)
Around 3% of people in England are known to have diabetes; however it is estimated that another 1.4% of the population are undiagnosed. Among the nine English regions, the North East has the highest estimated prevalence: 4.73% and the South East the lowest: 3.86%. It is estimated that by 2010, overall prevalence will be over 5%, taking into account the combined effects of an ageing population and predicted increases in obesity levels. Diabetes already costs the NHS an estimated £5m per day.
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Middle-aged and older populations and people of South Asian or African-Caribbean origin are most at risk of developing this chronic and progressive disorder. Black and South Asian people have 4 - 6 times higher rates of diabetes than white Europeans. Estimated prevalence of Type II Diabetes is 35% higher in the most deprived fifth of the population, compared to England as a whole.
Diabetes can be prevented by increasing public awareness of the condition and early symptoms (such as increased thirst, blurred vision). People at risk need to be supported to change their lifestyle by losing weight, increasing physical activity and eating a healthier diet. Environmental and policy changes to tackle obesity and to improve levels of physical activity are vital for diabetes prevention too. Diabetes can be well-controlled and treated, thus delaying and even preventing long-term complications. However if diabetes is not managed well it can lead to serious conditions such as heart disease and stroke, kidney failure, eye disease, limb amputations and mental ill-health.
The National Service Framework for Diabetes has 12 standards to be reached by 2013, covering prevention, identification, empowering people with diabetes, treatment, diabetes and pregnancy and detection and management of long-term complications. In the first two years since the Delivery Strategy progress has been made but there are still unacceptable inequalities in diabetes care which need to be tackled, for example an eightfold difference in blindness and amputation rates in people with diabetes between different parts of the country and different socio-economic groups.
Key resources
Disease groups - Diabetes - Regional key resources
Disease groups - Diabetes - National key resources
For further information you may wish to visit the following websites:
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Last review Nov 2009.