The number of people with diabetes has hit a record high in the UK. One in five adults in the country has either diabetes or prediabetes, informs Diabetes UK.

The new diabetes prevalence figures show that there are now 4.6 million people in the UK who have a diagnosis of diabetes. This is an all-time high. This figure is up from 4.4 million people last year. The figures were published by Diabetes UK, which called the increase a “hidden health crisis”.

A further 1.3 million are living with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes.

Additionally, an estimated 6.3 million people live with non-diabetic hyperglycemia, more commonly known as prediabetes, but some are not aware of this. If left untreated, prediabetes can develop into type 2 diabetes. This diagnosis is made when blood sugar levels are higher than normal. This condition is still reversible, and sugar levels can be brought back to normal with the help of diet and physical activity, mainly cardiovascular exercise.

Colette Marshall, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK, said “it’s also critical that much more is done to find the missing millions who either have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes but are completely unaware of it.”

“The sooner we can find and get them the care they need, the more harm we can prevent,” Marshall added in a statement.

Diabetes comes in two main forms, type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the cells that produce insulin, while type 2 diabetes is a condition in which the body produces enough insulin but cannot use it effectively.

Of the 4.6 million now living with a diagnosis of diabetes in the UK, about 8% have type 1 diabetes and 90% have type 2. The remaining 2% have different, rarer types of diabetes, the aforesaid report said.

Diabetes can have serious health consequences, including heart attack, stroke, kidney, eye, foot and nerve problems.

The rise in diabetes in the UK mirrors trends in Europe and around the world. According to global estimates published in The Lancet medical journal, 828 million people were diagnosed with diabetes in 2022, which is 630 million more than in 1990.

Diabetes UK wants to see the country’s government commit to continued and increased investment in better care for all types of diabetes, including more support for people newly diagnosed with the condition as well as better provision of annual diabetes health checks, which are critical to catching complications early.

“There must be better care for the millions of people living with all types of diabetes, to support them to live well and fend off the risk of developing devastating complications,” said Colette Marshall.