A charity has revealed the UK city with the highest prevalence of diabetes in the country. Current data suggests that 4.3 million people are now living with the blood sugar condition in the UK and around 850,000 people could be living with diabetes but are yet to be diagnosed.
Figures released by Diabetes UK in 2020 show that Bradford has the most patients with the condition. The UK city was followed by Harrow and Leicester in second and third place.
The charity revealed that 10.81 percent of people in Bradford, 12,116 residents, have been diagnosed with diabetes, compared to 6.9 percent of the wider population across the UK. In Harrow, 21,143 people, or 9.79 percent of the town’s population, are thought to have the condition.
This was followed by Leicester, where 30,656 have been diagnosed, leaving the city with the third-highest prevalence (9.37 per cent) in England. The data also showed that diabetes prevalence in Bradford was nearly three times higher than that of Richmond in London (3.7 per cent), which has the lowest number of people with diabetes.
Diabetes UK also estimates that the number of people with diabetes, including the undiagnosed population, is expected to rise to a whopping 5.3 million by 2025. This daunting statistic makes symptom awareness front and centre.
The NHS recommends looking out for the following tell-tale signs:
- Feeling very thirsty
- Peeing more frequently than usual, particularly at night
- Feeling very tired
- Weight loss and loss of muscle bulk
- Itching around the penis or vagina, or frequent episodes of thrush
- Blurred vision.
If you experience any of these signs, you should visit your GP “as soon as possible”, according to the health body.
It also notes that many people can have type 2 diabetes for years without realising it because the early symptoms tend to be general.
Diabetes UK is also calling on the Government to honour its manifesto commitment to tackle childhood obesity and focus on preventing devastating complications, through better care for all people with diabetes.
Chris Askew, Chief Executive at Diabetes UK, said: “Type 2 diabetes is an urgent public health crisis, and solving it depends on decisive action that’s led by government, supported by industry and delivered across our society.
“More than half of all cases of type 2 diabetes − and the accompanying risk of developing devastating complications − could be prevented or delayed by supporting people to make healthier choices.
“This includes mandating industry to make food and drinks healthier and addressing the marketing and promotion of unhealthy foods.
“At the same time, we need to help people understand their personal risk of type 2 diabetes and find tailored clinical support to reduce it. The Government promised to tackle obesity, and it’s time for them to deliver on this promise, and lead the way in affecting real change.
“Preventing type 2 diabetes, and the development of devastating complications for those living with the condition has to be a public health priority.”
