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In 2011, numbers showed that England scored the highest prevalence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in the adult population of the UK with 5.5 % of the population having diabetes. England was closely followed by Wales with 5.0 %, Scotland with 4.3 % and last Northern Ireland with the lowest percentage of diabetics, at 3.8 %.
Type 2 diabetes in the UK
In the UK 2.9 million people currently have diabetes. The number is estimated to rise to five million by 2025. Furthermore, it is also estimated that 850.000 people have diabetes, but haven't been diagnosed yet. In the adult population it is estimated that 2.7 million or 90 % of diabetics have type 2 diabetes and only 500 or 2 % of child diabetics have type 2.
The number of adults with pre-diabetes (an early stage of type 2) in the UK has exploded from 11.3% in 2003 to 35.3% in 2013. Type 2 diabetes is highly affected by behavioural risk factors and therefore it is believed that the increase in pre-diabetes is caused mainly by unhealthy diet, a lack of activity and smoking and drinking habits.
Sources:
- NHS
- Diabetes UK
Last updated: 21/09/2018
