The great undiagnosed

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published data warning that about a million adults in England have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes.

Furthermore, the ONS believes that there are perhaps five million people on the brink of developing type 2 diabetes. These calculations are based on data gathered from 26,751 results from the Health Survey for England which includes blood tests looking at low sugar levels.

Type 2 diabetes causes high blood sugar levels, symptoms of urinating more than usual, feeling thirsty constantly and feeling fatigued. Left untreated, it can lead to long-term damage to blood vessels, nerves, and organs. It is important to note that people from an Asian, black African or black Caribbean ethnic backgrounds have a higher risk of getting diabetes, according to the ONS.

Nikki Joule, policy manager at Diabetes UK, said: “The findings are a reminder of just how important it is for type 2 diabetes to be detected and diagnosed as early as possible, so people can get treatment and support to reduce the risk of devastating complications and, importantly, be offered remission programmes where appropriate.”