Diabetes is on the rise

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Diabetes is on the increase

Diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate in the UK. According to recent figures, the treatment of this disease now accounts for 10% of the NHS budget, amounting to £9 billion per year, or £173 million per week, and this figure continues to rise.

Since 1996, the number of people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK has increased from 1.4 million to 3.5 million.

Additionally, an estimated 500,000 people remain undiagnosed, bringing the total to over 4 million.

By 2025, experts predict this number will rise to 6 million.

Recent studies show that 415 million people live with diabetes worldwide, which is about 1 in 11 people.

By 2040, experts anticipate this number will rise to 642 million.

What is diabetes?

All forms of diabetes share a commonality.

There is too much sugar or glucose in the bloodstream, and the Pancreas is having problems controlling blood sugar levels, either by not producing enough insulin or by the body’s cells not reacting to the insulin as they should.

Types of diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes can develop at any age, but more often than not, it is detected in childhood and is NOT related to lifestyle or diet.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is by far more common and is a chronic condition that is associated with obesity, family history, and is more likely to be diagnosed in older people.

Without any treatment or management of this condition, it could lead to a long-lasting impact on the person’s health and could become life-threatening, too.

Diabetes can lead to foot issues, kidney issues, nerve damage, and an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Why the sudden rise in diabetes cases

It is hard to pinpoint this one because it is the individual and their food choices. Is it the supermarkets? Who can we point a finger at?

Supermarkets are well known for placing their popular sugary foods at eye level to make them more visible.

They sometimes have offers such as buy one, get one free.

We know manufacturers will pay a premium to have their products in the best positions in the stores.

Recently, I walked around a couple of supermarkets and noticed that all the sugary cereals were at a level a child could easily see, and all the large packs of confectionery that children like were also prominently displayed.

OR

Is it the individual’s food choices, or is it because some children and adults are not as active as they could be? People do play more on electronic toys these days, and is that to blame?

This is a tough one because the supermarkets are our go-to place for our food.

They are there to give us what we want and will place best-sellers, such as cakes, sugary foods, and confectionery, in prominent positions, as they are, after all, there to make a profit.

Is it the shopper or the individual at fault, as they buy these products for both their family and themselves?

Let’s face it, our children like their favourite cereal, we like our favourite chocolate bars, don’t we, etc.

Low sugar foods

Many manufacturers do make low-sugar versions of some of their products, but what are they putting into the product in place of the sugar?

Some people say they dislike the taste and have returned to the sugary one.

A well-known chocolate manufacturer has just withdrawn a low-sugar chocolate bar because it wasn’t selling, and to be fair, I tried it and didn’t like it either.

I have tried various low-sugar foods, and they have been hit and miss, depending on whether I liked them.

Conclusion

Diabetes is definitely on the rise in the UK because statistics tell us, do we blame the food and confectionery industry because they are giving us what we want?

Is it us and our food choices that are leading to obesity, and this is leading to an increase in diabetes, or are we not getting enough exercise as we probably did in the past?

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