2.5 million people with diabetes in the UK

According to the latest figures from Diabetes UK, the diabetic population of the UK has soared by some 167,000 in the last year. The total, according to the report, now stands are just under 2.5 million.
In England alone, this 6.4 per cent increase has resulted in the population crossing the two million mark for the first time. The vast majority of people with diabetes in the UK have type 2, often associated with obesity . Estimates put the obese population of the UK at around 5 million.
The chief executive of Diabetes UK, Douglas Smallwood, reportedly commented: “These are truly alarming figures. Part of why we have seen such a huge increase can be attributed to improved screening from healthcare services and greater awareness amongst those at high risk of type 2 diabetes . However, there is no getting away from the fact that this large increase is linked to the obesity crisis .”
The answer to the problem, according to Smallwood, lies in raising awareness. He reportedly continued: “We need to do all we can to raise awareness of the seriousness of diabetes and help people understand how a healthy lifestyle can help reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes.”