A new report from the UK Diabetes Association reveals that nearly a third of cardiovascular disease deaths in England occur among diabetes patients. The analysis, based on national diabetes audits, shows that in 2022, a total of 144,590 deaths in England were attributed to diabetes, with 29% of those deaths occurring in diabetic individuals.
The report highlights a sharp increase in these figures over the last few decades. In 2009, the number of deaths from cardiovascular diseases stood at 147,820, with only 15% of these deaths involving individuals with diabetes. This stark rise underscores the growing health crisis facing diabetes patients in England.
Financially, diabetes treatment costs the UK a staggering £10.7 billion annually. This figure is expected to rise to £18 billion by 2035. Despite this, the report indicates that only 61.3% of diabetes patients receive all recommended care processes, with over a third missing at least one critical checkup.
The UK currently has an estimated 5.8 million people living with diabetes, with 90% of them diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The report calls on the government to prioritize diabetes care in its upcoming 10-year health plan, which includes a goal to reduce cardiovascular disease-related deaths and disabilities by a quarter.
Colette Marshall, CEO of the UK Diabetes Association, stated, “Diabetes should not be a passport to health complications, but right now, millions of people with diabetes are facing a harsh reality. In England alone, diabetes causes 812 strokes, 568 heart attacks, and 2,909 cases of heart failure every week. This must and can change.”
The government has set ambitious goals in its health plan to shift focus from treating illness to preventing health issues. If the plan is to succeed, diabetes must play a central role. “We already have the tools and knowledge to make this shift,” Marshall added. “Now we need the political will to make it happen before diabetes claims any more lives.”
Professor Kamlesh Khunti from the University of Leicester, a leading expert in diabetes and vascular medicine, emphasized the importance of cardiovascular health management for diabetes patients. “We now have clear evidence that simple measures, such as managing blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels, can significantly reduce complications and improve quality of life and longevity for diabetes patients,” Khunti said.
However, the report also points out that a third of patients do not receive basic care that could help manage their condition effectively. With the evidence available, there is a clear need for more targeted interventions to prevent cardiovascular and kidney diseases, particularly among type 2 diabetes patients.
The National Health Service (NHS) in England has been consulted on the findings, and further actions are expected to address these pressing concerns.
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