A charity has warned that the number of people suffering from diabetes is expected to increase by 700,000 by 2020 due to Britain’s obesity epidemic.
Diabetes UK says this will put more strain on the cash-strapped health service.
The charity said the number of people with diabetes in Britain looked set to get to 4.4 million in eight years’ time.
It added that this increase would put more burden on the NHS, which already spends 10 per cent of its budget treating people with diabetes.
Barbara Young, Chief Executive, said a combination of diabetes and pressures on the NHS budget could create “a perfect storm that threatens to bankrupt the NHS”.
Analysis figures from the Yorkshire and Humber Public Health Observatory show that the vast majority of the new cases of diabetes will be Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity and unhealthy lifestyles. Type 2 diabetes: a long-term condition that happens when the body doesn’t create enough insulin for it to function properly, or when the cells in the body don’t use insulin properly, accounts for 90% of all cases.
Obesity needs tackling and fast. My hope from this superb summer of sport here in Britain was that there would be more sport in schools and youngsters and adults alike would be encouraged to get more active. Will this happen? We will have to wait and see.
There does seem to have been a steady decline in sport in schools over the years: certainly since I was at school, as pressures to perform in league tables and academic subjects, as well as a seeming lack in willingness by teachers to work out of hours and do sports in lunch times and after school, all contributing.
There needs to be a strong focus on nutrition, lifestyle and sport in school, but we can all play our part in helping tackle this obesity epidemic. Next time the kids want a lift round the corner to their friend’s house, tell them to walk. Next time there’s a choice between the stairs or the lift, take the stairs. Next time you have a few free evenings perhaps take a walk or join an exercise class.
Organising group walks or activities is also a great way to exercise and socialise all at the same time – then it doesn’t feel like you are exercising and it becomes fun.
As a nation we cannot afford to ignore the statistics and need to take action now.