16
NEWS
Now 5m people with
diabetes in the UK
Diabetes UK charity news round-up following its
annual diabetes professionals conference at the end
of April.
Diabetes UK has warned that
the UK is in the grip of a
'rapidly escalating diabetes
crisis,' as new analysis
reveals the number of people living
diabetes (PWDs) has topped 5m for
the first time.
New figures show that 4.3m
people are now living with a
diagnosis of diabetes in the UK, with
approximately 90% of the cases
being Type 2. About 8% are Type 1,
with the other forms of the condition
make up the remaining 2%. Diabetes
UK estimates there are an additional
850,000 people living with diabetes
who are yet to be diagnosed, bringing
the overall UK-wide figure beyond
the £5m mark.
The risk factors of Type 2
diabetes are multiple and complex,
and include age, family history,
ethnicity, as well as living with
being overweight or obesity. Social
deprivation is also an issue. Factors
such as income, education, housing,
access to healthy food, as well as
poorer access to healthcare, have
been shown to be strongly linked
to an increased risk of developing
several health conditions - including
Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes UK is
concerned that the high numbers
of people living with overweight or
obesity across the UK - currently
64% of adults in England - is
translating into an increase in cases
of Type 2 diabetes.
The charity says that these
figures underline why diabetes
must be central to the government's
forthcoming Major Conditions
Strategy and a key part of local
health leaders' plans. It argues that
the focus must be on preventing
Type 2 diabetes, supporting those
at high risk and working to reduce
health inequalities in communities
where the prevalence of Type
2 is worryingly higher than the
general population.
Weight loss and
T2D remission
New findings from an extension of
the landmark Diabetes UK-funded
Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial
(DiRECT) have revealed that nearly
a quarter (23%) of participants who
were in remission from Type 2
diabetes at two years in an original
trial remained in remission at five
years, no longer needing to use
diabetes medications to manage
their blood sugar levels. Those who
were still in remission had an average
weight loss of 8.9kg at five years.
The original DiRECT trial of a
weight management programme
for people with a diagnosis of Type
2 diabetes involved a 12-week lowcalorie
formula diet, followed by
support to gradually reintroduce
healthy food and maintain weight
loss. The landmark trial was the first
to show that remission from Type 2
diabetes is possible through dietary
intervention, with almost half (46%)
of people in remission at one year,
and 36% at two years.
Data, available from 85
participants of the original DiRECT
intervention group (ie those receiving
regular support to aid weight
loss), revealed an average five-year
weight loss of 6.1kg. Of the 48/85
participants who were in remission
at the start of the extension period,
11 (23%) were still in remission at
five years, with an average five-year
weight loss of 8.9kg. Data available
from 82 participants of the original
DiRECT control group (ie those