Over the last few years there has been major concern regarding the onset of diabetes, both diabetes type I and diabetes type II, and data revealed by Diabetes UK and Tesco has today confirmed the problem.
A phenomenal 3 million people, equivalent to 4.6% of the UK population, have now been diagnosed with diabetes and experts estimate a further 850,000 people are suffering in silence.
Record diagnosis numbers in 2012
It was also revealed that 132,000 people in the UK were diagnosed with diabetes during 2012 which is a very worrying trend.
It is hoped that an ongoing charitable arrangement between Diabetes UK and Tesco will highlight the problem of diabetes in the UK where there is certainly much work to be done. However, the £10 million charitable donation expected through Tesco activities will be well received
While many people will point towards the fact that diagnosis is more available in the UK than ever before, the truth is that 4.6% of the UK population currently have diabetes.
Early deaths because of diabetes
Data supplied by the UK diabetes charity also confirmed that in excess of 24,000 people each year die early due to conditions brought about by both type I diabetes and type II diabetes.
When you also take into account the enormous investment in diabetes healthcare across the UK this is not only a potential human tragedy but also a financial nightmare for the NHS.
There is a whole raft of medical conditions directly linked to diabetes which include strokes, heart attacks, high blood pressure, etc all of which are treated on the NHS on a regular basis. A number of experts have stepped forward to suggest that within 30 or 40 years the NHS could be effectively "bankrupt" because of the escalating cost of treating diabetics and associated medical conditions.
Diabetes awareness
Over the years we have seen a number of relatively small diabetes awareness campaigns come and go, some have been successful and others have fallen by the wayside. The arrangement between Diabetes UK and Tesco is set to be heavily promoted throughout the country and indeed Tesco supermarkets will be used as a base for testing the UK population for diabetes.
As we suggested above, while the £10 million expected to be raised on behalf of the charity will go down very well and fund future research, it is perhaps the awareness campaign which is of more value going forward.
The vast majority of us have heard of diabetes, the vast majority of us will have looked into it in some detail but many of us expect it to pass us by. The truth is that within 50 years it is possible that one in three individuals in America could be impacted by diabetes, something which could be replicated across the UK unless more work is done.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that hitting the 3 million mark for diabetics in the UK is a major landmark and one which should make governments, individuals and businesses across the country sit up and listen.
There is the obvious cost of life with regards to this condition not to mention social issues, employment issues and pressure on the NHS going forward. It will be interesting to see whether the UK government decides to team up with Diabetes UK and Tesco to promote this ever growing problem.
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=NM_Benson
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