This is an increase of 65% in the last decade alone with 119, 965 more diabetics than in 2013/14.
The information also highlights the fact that 1 in 5 people aged 60-70 are now living with diabetes, with experts warning that the total number of people in the UK with the illness could easily top five million within the next decade.
Chief executive of Diabetes UK, Chris Askew, commented: “With four million people in the UK now living with diabetes, the need to tackle this serious health condition has never been so stark or so urgent. Tragically, we are continuing to see too many people with diabetes suffering serious complications, and even dying before their time, and we know that key reasons for this are that they are being denied both the care and access to education that would help them to manage their condition well.
“It is vital that we start to see people with diabetes receive good quality care wherever they live rather than them being at the mercy of a postcode lottery. Equally, diabetes education needs to be readily available everywhere, and commissioned along with a proper local system that explains to people with diabetes the benefits they will gain from attending an education course, and ensures that courses are well run.”
Currently, more than 24,000 people die every year from diabetes, often as a result of insufficient care and education. This figure is likely to rise in the future unless urgent changes are brought into effect, with just 60% of people with diabetes getting the eight NICE recommended checks which have been sounded out as key to identifying problems early.
The National Audit Office has also spoken out about the poor standard of care available for those suffering with diabetes, especially those who ultimately suffer with preventable complications such as blindness, kidney failure or limb amputation.
For more information on diabetes, please visit www.diabetes.org.uk
