Around 500 people with diabetes die prematurely every week in England and Wales, with many of these deaths being caused by avoidable complications, new figures suggest.
Men and women between the ages of 35 and 64 living with type 1 diabetes are three to four times more likely to die prematurely than those without the condition. Meanwhile those in the same age range with type 2 diabetes are up to two times more likely to die prematurely.
This findings come from analysis of the most recent NHS National Diabetes Audit report on complications and mortality. It found the most common complications of diabetes that can lead to early death are stroke and heart disease.
Every week in the UK, 680 people suffer a stroke as a complication of diabetes (one in five strokes are caused by diabetes), 530 people suffer a diabetes-related heart attack, and there are around 2,000 cases of diabetes-related heart failure.
The devastating complications of diabetes, like amputations, sight loss, kidney disease, stroke and heart disease, some of which can lead to early death, are preventable if people are supported to manage their diabetes effectively.
Since 2017, the Diabetes Transformation Fund has invested more than £80 million in regions across England to improve the care people with diabetes receive, and help them manage their condition.
Diabetes UK is calling on NHS England to continue its concerted action to improve the quality of local diabetes services beyond 2019, to curb the growing numbers of people dying prematurely because of diabetes.
Chris Askew, Chief Executive at Diabetes UK, said: “500 preventable, premature deaths each week is a harrowing statistic that highlights how serious diabetes can be. It’s vital that this seriousness is recognised, and that the NHS continues to fund improvements to diabetes care beyond 2019, as it has been doing through the Diabetes Transformation Fund.”
He added: “Progress is being made and shouldn’t stop now, to ensure the benefits of transformation are fully realised.”