There has been a 60% rise in the number of people living with diabetes in the UK, a leading charity has said.
Diabetes UK has revealed the number of people with the condition is now more than 3.3 million, rising from 2.1 million in 2005.
Around 90% of patients have type 2 diabetes, a condition which can be largely prevented with healthy lifestyle choices.
If not controlled, diabetes can result in life-changing complications, including blindness, nerve damage and amputation.
Around 135 foot amputations are performed each week in the UK due to diabetes, an issue which has recently been highlighted by the charity.
Diabetes UK has once again called upon the NHS and the government to help prevent the condition through better medical care.
This would save the NHS a considerable amount of money, as the cost of diabetes care is currently a drain on resources.
Diabetes medication now makes up 10% of the NHS prescriptions budget, up from 6.6% a decade ago.
Barbara Young, chief executive of Diabetes UK, expanded upon the financial benefits of improving diabetes care.
“Diabetes already costs the NHS nearly £10 billion a year, and 80% of this is spent on managing avoidable complications”, she said.
“So there is huge potential to save money and reduce pressure on NHS hospitals and services through providing better care to prevent people with diabetes developing devastating and costly complications.”
Diabetes amputation claim
If you have suffered as a result of poor diabetes care – for example, you have undergone a preventable amputation – you could be the victim of medical negligence. Contact us for more information.
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