Diabetes in the United Kingdom (UK) - Statistics & Facts
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Diabetes mellitus is a growing concern in modern society, with the number of individuals with diabetes growing year-on-year and becoming one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In 2021, there were almost 141,000 diabetes-related deaths in the United Kingdom, the third-highest figure across Europe. The two common forms of diabetes are type 1, which results when the cells in the pancreas fail to produce enough insulin, and type 2, which initially develops as a resistance to insulin when the cells fail to respond to insulin properly. In 2021, the UK was the European country with the second-highest number of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes after Germany, with over 31,600 cases.
All in all, in the United Kingdom health expenditure amounted to over 5,860 U.S. dollars for every person living with diabetes in the country in 2021.
Prevalence
As of 2021, the prevalence of diabetics in the UK totaled 8.2 percent. Between 2022 and 2023, there were more individuals with type 2 diabetes than type 1, and gender distribution appeared to be quite similar for both diabetes types, with roughly 56 percent of males affected versus 44 percent of females. Furthermore, there was a sizeable difference between deprivation quintiles in England, with an increased likelihood of having type 2 diabetes in the most deprived quintile, for which lifestyle choices, such as consumption of unhealthy food and soft drinks, as well as lack of exercise, play a fundamental role.Treatment and cost
The National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom has established a diabetes treatment and care program to ensure adult and pediatric patients receive the appropriate care processes. Individuals with diabetes should receive nine care processes annually. These care processes involve such things as blood pressure checks, cholesterol monitoring, and foot surveillance. However, figures show that individuals with type 1 diabetes are less likely to receive all nine care processes compared to people with type 2 diabetes. Moreover, individuals with diabetes are expected to be able to self-manage their insulin. Thanks to advancements in medical technology, individuals are able to monitor their blood sugar levels with the help of blood glucose monitoring items.All in all, in the United Kingdom health expenditure amounted to over 5,860 U.S. dollars for every person living with diabetes in the country in 2021.
