The number of people in the UK diagnosed with diabetes has reached three million – the equivalent of 4.6% of the UK’s population – for the first time, according to an analysis carried out by the charity Diabetes UK and supermarket chain Tesco.
The figure represents an increase of 132,000 people diagnosed with diabetes over the past year. A further 850,000 people are thought to have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes, the analysis added.
The figures were published in March as part of the launch of a partnership between Tesco and Diabetes UK, with the aim of raising £10 million to help fund the biggest ever public awareness campaign on type 2 diabetes risk factors, which the charity says is aiming to reach the estimated seven million people at high risk of the disease.