Charity warns of ‘hidden health crisis’ as one in five UK adults now living with diabetes or prediabetes

New data released today by Diabetes UK reveals one in five adults in the UK are now living with either diabetes or prediabetes, a ‘critical’ figure requiring urgent intervention, the charity says.

In an open letter to the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer and his Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, the charity is calling on the UK Government to ensure early intervention in diabetes care, and the prevention of type 2 diabetes, are at the heart of its long-term plans.

The new figures released by Diabetes UK today show:

• There are now 6 million people in the UK with a diagnosis of diabetes, up from 4.4 million from last year and an all-time high
• An estimated 6.3 million peoplein the UK are living with non-diabetic hyperglycaemia, some of whom are unaware they have the condition. This is more commonly known as ‘prediabetes’ which, if left untreated, could develop into type 2 diabetes.
• A further 3 million people are living with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes, meaning more than 12 million people in the UK – or one in five UK adults – have either diabetes or prediabetes.

The charity’s call comes as the Government looks to finalise details of its 10 Year Health Plan. Without urgent action to improve diabetes care, the charity says there will be an increase in the numbers of people experiencing life-altering and costly complications.

Each year, diabetes causes more than 48,000 strokes, 34,000 heart attacks and 155,000 cases of heart failure in the UK. 

Colette Marshall, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK said: “These latest figures highlight the hidden health crisis we’re facing in the UK, and underline why the Government must act now.

“There must be better care for the millions of people living with all types of diabetes, to support them to live well and fend off the risk of developing devastating complications.

“With more people developing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes at a younger age, it’s also critical that much more is done to find the missing millions who either have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes but are completely unaware of it. The sooner we can find and get them the care they need, the more harm we can prevent.”

To support the UK Government’s intended shift from sickness to prevention, Diabetes UK is calling for the 10 Year Health Plan to:

• Commit to continued and increased investment in better care for all types of diabetes, including enhanced support for people newly diagnosed with the condition as well as better provision of annual diabetes health checks, which are critical to catching complications early
• Urgently find all thosewho are unaware they are living with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, to ensure they have the right support at the earliest possible opportunity. This includes improving the delivery of NHS Health Checks and ensuring they are reaching those most at risk
• Invest in vital prevention support for those with prediabetes or at high risk of type 2 diabetes, including those with proven success in preventing ill health like the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.

Former Team GB Olympic triple jumper, and Diabetes UK ambassador Michelle Griffith-Robinson, 53, was first diagnosed with prediabetes in 2018.

Michelle has a history of type 2 diabetes in her family – losing her grandmother to diabetes-related complications. Her mother also has type 2 diabetes, and sadly had to have her leg amputated in January 2023.

She said: “Being diagnosed with prediabetes came as a massive shock to me as I considered myself fit and healthy.

“I made some immediate lifestyle changes and managed to get my blood sugar levels back in the normal range.”

Having recently been told in November 2024, that she has prediabetes for a second time, Michelle wants to raise awareness of the condition and champions the call for investment in vital prevention support for others with prediabetes and at risk of type 2 diabetes.

She added: “I’ve recently been told I have prediabetes again, so raising awareness, especially in the Black community where there is a lot of stigma around type 2 diabetes – is extremely important to me.”

Diabetes is a serious condition, and it can be a gateway to further ill health, leading to people developing multiple long-term health issues including heart failure, strokes, kidney failure and sight loss.

Cases of type 2 diabetes in younger people have also been increasing at ‘alarming levels’ in recent years with a 40 per cent increase in the number of people under the age of 40 living with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes between 2016-17 and 2022-23.

The condition is known to have more severe and acute consequences in people under 40 and, devastatingly, those who develop type 2 diabetes at a younger age are also more likely to die early.

Last year, research by Diabetes UK revealed how costs will rise over time if action is not taken to reduce the number of people developing type 2 diabetes and improve outcomes for everyone living with diabetes. It estimated that, by 2035, the cost to the NHS alone could be nearly £18bn. 

Of the 4.6 million now living with a diagnosis of diabetes in the UK, about eight per cent have type 1 diabetes and 90 per cent have type 2. The remaining two per cent have different, rarer types of diabetes.

Prediabetes is when somebody has high blood glucose levels, but not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. People with prediabetes are at very high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

If people don’t have symptoms or symptoms are missed, type 2 diabetes can go undiagnosed for years.

This makes NHS Health Checks, as well as awareness of the risk factors, essential to diagnosing type 2 diabetes early, as well as finding people who have prediabetes and are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Some of the risk factors of type 2 diabetes include age, ethnicity, family history and living with overweight or obesity.

Early diagnosis can reduce the chance of developing complications, and for some people, offers the opportunity to put the condition into remission.

Diagnosing prediabetes can help people to reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes and it may be possible to prevent or delay the condition developing.

 The open letter to the Prime Minister and Health Secretary, which Diabetes UK has launched today, outlines its calls on Government to act now to tackle the diabetes crisis.

You can add your voice to this call and sign the letter here.