The UK is in the throes of an escalating health emergency, Diabetes UK has warned, citing alarming new figures that indicate more than 5.6 million people are now living with diabetes – a record high. The charity has raised major concerns, revealing that out of this number, 4.4 million have been diagnosed with the condition, and worryingly, another potential 1.2 million individuals might have type 2 diabetes undetected.
With a considerable annual increase of 167,822 cases on last year’s data for 2022/23, the prevalence of this health issue, which leads to dangerously high blood sugar levels due to improper glucose processing, continues to skyrocket. It’s reported that Type 2 diabetes constitutes about 90 per cent of these cases, commonly associated with sedentary lifestyles and poor diets, although genetics can also play a role.
Speaking on the severity of the situation, Chris Askew, chief executive of Diabetes UK, asserted: “These figures show we’re in the grip of a rapidly escalating crisis.”
He pointed out the growing epidemic of Type 2 diabetes and its severe implications for millions across the UK, adding that “The fear of serious complications is a life-long reality for millions of people across the UK.”
Diabetes poses a serious health threat, potentially leading to stroke, heart disease, hypertension, constricted blood vessels, and nerve damage. Type 1 diabetes involves an immune attack on insulin-creating cells, while the more prevalent Type 2 emerges due to insufficient insulin production or inadequate response to it, reports Gloucestershire Live.
Despite being more complex, Type 2 is generally easier to control. The UK sees two-thirds of its population overweight, heightening their risk for such complications, and shockingly, approximately 2.4 million people are at ‘high risk’ of developing Type 2 diabetes, with a sharp increase in cases among under 40s.
However, there is hope as Mr Askew points out that “With the right care and support, cases of Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or put into remission.”
It’s crucial to stay vigilant for symptoms – some of which are quite subtle. If you’re experiencing potential indicators of diabetes or pre-diabetes – a reversible condition where blood sugar levels are high but not yet diabetic – the NHS recommends consulting a GP.
Less known is the fact that specific rashes may actually signal pre-diabetes or diabetes, with each rash presenting differently depending on its cause.
Some health symptoms are warning signs of heart diseases, and people should be vigilant about identifying them as they could be indicators of serious conditions. Among them is Bullosis diabeticorum, which the Cleveland Clinic describes as “painless blisters [that] may form on the backs of hands and feet and on the legs and forearms”, typically afflicting individuals with diabetic neuropathy where diabetes has caused nerve damage.
Diabetes dermopathy is another condition that can produce light-brown scaly patches, similar to age spots, on the shins that usually do not require treatment. Digital sclerosis, often seen in those with type 1 diabetes, leads to hardening and waxy skin on the back of the hands.
For diabetes, there are eight notable symptoms: Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum (NLD) commonly manifests as a lower leg rash more prevalent in women, capable of causing red, shiny patches with a central yellowish area. Another concern is Diabetes Foot Syndrome, where skin trauma can lead to ulcers that heal slowly and are prone to infection.
To manage diabetes effectively, it’s suggested that patients should remain stress-free, as tension can elevate blood glucose levels, maintain regular glucose monitoring, drink only moderate alcohol owing to its potential to mimic symptoms of low blood sugar, enhance oral hygiene to combat increased susceptibility to gum disease from bacterial infections, and decrease sugar consumption by opting for alternative sweeteners.