UK Diabetes Statistics
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimates that roughly one in nine adults aged 20-79 now has diabetes, equating to approximately 588.7 million people worldwide.
With figures forecast to rise by almost 45% by 2050, this is a public health issue that is certainly not going away.
Our weight loss experts have compiled the latest report for 2025 to show how diabetes statistics are changing in the UK and beyond. This includes how many people have diabetes, how diabetes rates by country are evolving, and the potential impact on healthcare costs. We also explore recent type 1 and type 2 diabetes facts, gestational diabetes statistics, and the link between obesity, diabetes, and life expectancy.Â
Top 10 must-know facts about diabetes 2025
- Around 11% of adults globally aged 20-79 are believed to have diabetes, equating to approximately 588.7 million people. (Source: IDF)
- Three-quarters of those with diabetes live in middle-income countries. (Source: IDF)
- More than 5.8 million people in the UK have diabetes. (Source: Diabetes.org)
- An estimated 4.35 million people in England have diabetes, a figure expected to exceed five million by 2030. (Source: Chemist4U)
- 35,122 children and young people are registered with diabetes across England and Wales. (Source: RCPCH and HQIP)
- Global diabetes-related health expenditure exceeded $1 trillion in 2024, with more than two-fifths coming from North America and the Caribbean. (Source: IDF)
- Approximately 90% of those in the UK with diabetes have type 2 diabetes, and around 8% have type 1. (Source: Diabetes.org)
- The number of people worldwide with prediabetes could reach 846.5 million by 2050. (Source: IDF)
- Gestational diabetes affects around 5% of pregnancies in the UK. (Source: Diabetes.org)
- By 2030, there could be more than 89,000 deaths from diabetes across the UK, a rise of 43% from 2023. (Source: Chemist4U)
How many people have diabetes?
Diabetes numbers vary depending on the source and scale on which the estimates are taken.
For example, according to Diabetes.co.uk, approximately 415 million people in the world were thought to be living with diabetes in 2019. This represented roughly 9% of the global population.
By 2040, they predict this figure could reach 642 million—a rise of 54.7% in over two decades.
The World Health Organisation (WHO), on the other hand, claims that the number of people living with diabetes more than quadrupled between 1990 and 2022, rising from 200 million to 830 million in the space of 32 years.
This means, according to their estimates, that around one in seven people in 2022 aged 18 and above had diabetes (more than double the proportion compared to 1990).
How many people have diabetes in the world
The latest IDF Diabetes Atlas for 2025 reports that 11.1% of global adults aged 20-79 have diabetes. This equates to roughly one in nine (or 588.7 million people).
In addition to this, their estimates suggest:
- More than four in five adults with diabetes now live in low/middle-income countries.
- More than two in five (approximately 252 million people) are unaware they have the condition.
- By 2050, one in eight adults (13.0%) could be living with diabetes, representing 853 million people.
The prevalence and number of people in the world with diabetes aged 65-99 (2024 vs. 2050)
As of 2024, the IDF estimates that there are around 158.3 million people globally aged 65-99 with diabetes. This equates to just under a quarter of the adult population for this age group.
By 2050, this figure is projected to rise by around three-quarters to approximately 278 million.
The prevalence and number of people with diabetes aged 20-79 across high, middle, and low-income countries (2024 vs. 2050)
| 2024 | 2050 | |||
| Classification | Diabetes prevalence* (%) | Age-standardised diabetes prevalence** (%) | Diabetes prevalence* (%) | Age-standardised diabetes prevalence** (%) |
| World | 11.1% | 11.1% | 13.0% | 13.0% |
| High-income countries | 12.4% | 10.2% | 14.0% | 12.0% |
| Middle-income countries | 11.3% | 11.5% | 13.7% | 13.5% |
| Low-income countries | 6.1% | 7.5% | 6.8% | 8.2% |
(Source: IDF)
* National prevalence
** Standardised to world population for that respective year
According to the IDF’s 2025 Diabetes Atlas, more than three-quarters of those globally with diabetes live in a middle-income country. This accounts for almost 453 million people.
By 2050, this figure is predicted to increase by almost half, to approximately 674.8 million. This could result in nearly four in five people with diabetes (79%) living in countries of medium wealth.
By contrast, the number of people with diabetes from the poorest parts of the world is predicted to more than double by 2050. Yet, this will likely account for just 6% of the global diabetes population aged 20-79.
The prevalence and number of people with diabetes aged 20-79 across different global regions (2024 vs. 2050)
| IDF region | Diabetes prevalence* (%) (2024) | Age-standardised diabetes prevalence** (%) (2024) | Diabetes prevalence* (%) (2050) | Age-standardised diabetes prevalence** (%) (2050) |
| MENA | 17.6% | 19.9% | 21.0% | 22.8% |
| NAC | 15.1% | 13.8% | 16.4% | 15.3% |
| WP | 12.4% | 11.1% | 14.7% | 12.8% |
| SEA | 9.7% | 10.8% | 13.2% | 13.0% |
| SACA | 10.0% | 10.1% | 12.3% | 11.5% |
| EUR | 9.8% | 8.0% | 11.0% | 9.4% |
| AFR | 4.2% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5.9% |
(Source: IDF)
* National prevalence
** Standardised to world population for that respective year
Diabetes statistics from the IDF suggest that South-East Asia (SEA) had the highest number of people with diabetes as of 2024. At almost 107 million, this accounted for roughly a fifth of all those diagnosed globally with the condition that year and almost ten times more than those living in Africa.
According to the IDF, diabetes was most prevalent in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in 2024, accounting for around one in five (age-standardised). This made it around four times as common compared to the rest of Africa.
By 2050, the prevalence of diabetes is anticipated to increase in all regions of the world, notably by 3.5 percentage points in SEA (the largest predicted growth across all regions).
The proportion and number of undiagnosed people with diabetes aged 20-79 across different global regions (2024)
The IDF estimates that as many as 251.7 million people could be undiagnosed with diabetes around the globe.
The vast majority of these (42%) are anticipated to be from the Western Pacific (WP) region, where the diabetes population is thought to be 50% bigger than it is reported to be.
Diabetes rates by country
According to diabetes stats from the IDF, around a quarter of people with diabetes in 2024 are from China.
At approximately 148 million, this is more than 1.5 times the number found in India and almost four times the total for the USA.
Countries with the highest number of people with diabetes aged 20-79 (2024 vs. 2050)
Based on historic trends, the IDF expects Pakistan to see some of the largest growth globally in terms of diabetic populations, with figures predicted to more than double by 2050.
Countries with the highest and lowest levels of diabetes prevalence in those aged 20-79 (2024)
As of 2024, the highest rate of diabetes prevalence in adults aged 20-79 was found in Kuwait, where more than a quarter of people in this age group had the condition. This was contrasted by Zimbabwe, which had the lowest diabetes prevalence across all nations at 1.3%.
Diabetes statistics from the IDF also indicate:
- An east-west divide in rates of diabetes, with those in the eastern hemisphere having higher rates of diabetes prevalence than those in the western hemisphere.
- Island nations tend to have a greater proportion of adults aged 20-79 with diabetes than those on the mainland.
- The lowest rates of diabetes among the 20-79 population tend to be located in Africa, compared to the highest rates, which are concentrated around nations in the Pacific Ocean.
Countries with the highest levels of age-standardised diabetes prevalence in those aged 20-79 (2024 vs. 2050)
An analysis of age-standardised diabetes prevalence rates from 2024 shows that Pakistan comes out on top, where almost one in three of its population aged 20-79 has the condition. By 2050, this is expected to rise by 2.8 percentage points.
It also shows that the majority of countries in the top 10 for age-standardised diabetes prevalence in 2024 are located around the Middle East and the Pacific Ocean.
Of these, Kiribati is forecast to see the largest growth, with an expected rise of 3.9 percentage points by 2050.
Countries with the highest number of people with undiagnosed diabetes aged 20-79 (2024)
According to diabetes stats from the IDF, there are an estimated 73.5 million people aged 20-79 in China who have undiagnosed diabetes. This represents the most of any nation and around double the predicted amount compared to India in second place.
In reality, this means the number of people in China aged 20-79 with diabetes is likely to be almost 50% higher than it reportedly is.
The highest proportion of undiagnosed diabetes in 2024 was in Indonesia, where almost three-quarters of the adult population aged 20-79 are thought to be living with diabetes but have no formal diagnosis. This equates to around 15 million people (almost five times less than the calculated number in China).
How many people have diabetes in the UK?
Estimates from Diabetes.org suggest that there are more than 5.8 million people in the UK living with diabetes (an all-time high).
It’s believed that almost four-fifths of these (approximately 4.6 million people) have a diabetes diagnosis, with the remaining 1.3 million believed to be living with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes.
These figures represent a rise of 185,034 diabetes registrations in 2023-24 compared to the previous year.
However, between 1996 and 2019, the number of people in the UK living with diabetes almost tripled, rising from 1.4 million to 3.9 million (an increase of 179%).
Prevalence of diabetes in England over time
According to the Department for Health and Social Care, the prevalence of diabetes in England has increased year-on-year from 2.34 million in 2009/10 to 3.94 million in 2023/24. This represents an increase of more than two-thirds in 14 years.
Our forecasts suggest that, should these trends continue, we could expect more than 4.5 million people with a diabetes diagnosis in England by 2030 (roughly 15.2% more compared to 2023/24).
"The reality is that our modern lifestyle is creating a perfect storm for diabetes. People are moving less, eating more processed foods, and frankly, many don't realise they're at risk until it's too late.
"What really worries me is how many patients come in completely shocked by their diagnosis - they had no idea diabetes was developing."
Ayesha Bashir (Prescribing Pharmacist at Chemist4U)
Prevalence of diabetes in England over time by type of diabetes
| Period | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 |
| People with type 1 diabetes who received all nine care process checks* | 94,110 | 51,020 | 75,460 | 99,780 | 116,700 |
| Proportion of type 1 diabetes (%) | 37.4% | 19.9% | 28.7% | 37.0% | 42.2% |
| People with type 2 diabetes who received all nine care process checks* | 1,657,135 | 683,285 | 1,226,220 | 1,678,290 | 1,944,410 |
| Proportion of type 2 diabetes (%) | 52.2% | 21.2% | 37.3% | 48.9% | 54.3% |
| People with type 1 diabetes who achieved all three treatment targets** (new definition) | 40,070 | 35,295 | 40,960 | 49,130 | 52,665 |
| Proportion of type 1 diabetes (%) | 20.0% | 21.5% | 22.4% | 23.9% | 24.3% |
| People with type 2 diabetes who achieved all three treatment targets** (new definition) | 1,158,650 | 885,110 | 986,390 | 1,161,560 | 1,171,285 |
| Proportion of type 2 diabetes (%) | 40.1% | 35.7% | 35.7% | 37.9% | 36.4% |
(Source: Department for Health and Social Care)
* Categorised as:
- Weight and BMI
- Blood pressure
- HbA1c (your average blood glucose (sugar) level)
- Retinopathy screening (diabetic eye screening)
- Foot risk stratification (likelihood of developing foot complications as a result of diabetes)
- Urinary albumin test (the amount of albumin (a type of protein) in your urine compared to creatinine (a water product) to determine potential signs of kidney disease)
- Serum creatinine (creatinine levels in your blood)
- Smoking status
- Cholesterol level
** Defined as having an HbA1c level of less than or equal to 58mmol/mol (7.5%), blood pressure less than or equal to 140/80, and prescribed a statin for primary (aged 40-80) or secondary (established cardiovascular disease) prevention.
As of 2023/24, the number of people in England with type 1 diabetes who received all nine care process checks stood at 116,700, a rise of almost a quarter from 2019/20.
These latest figures represent more than two-fifths of all those in England with type 1 diabetes (a 4.8 percentage point increase in the space of four years).
Diabetes stats from the Department for Health and Social Care also show that:
- The number of people in England with type 2 diabetes who received all nine care process checks grew by 17.3% between 2019/20 and 2023/24.
- More than half of those with type 2 diabetes in England have received all nine care process checks— a figure that is largely comparable to 2019/20.
- The number of people in England with type 1 diabetes who achieved all three treatment targets increased by almost a third between 2019/20 and 2023/24.
- The proportion of people with type 1 diabetes who achieved all three treatment targets has grown year-on-year, from a fifth in 2019/20 up to almost a quarter in 2023/24.
- The number of people with type 2 diabetes in England who achieved all three treatment targets grew by around 1% between 2019/20 and 2023/24.
- The proportion of those with type 2 diabetes who achieved all three treatment targets stood at virtually two-fifths in 2019/20 but has since dropped by 3.7 percentage points in four years.
Note: Reported statistics on diabetes dropped significantly during COVID-19. They have been included in the table above to show the impact of the pandemic on recorded figures, but not as part of the above analysis.
Prevalence of diabetes in Scotland over time
The most recent diabetes stats from NHS Scotland show that, in 2023, there were 353,088 people registered with diabetes.
This represents year-on-year growth in the prevalence of diabetes across the nation, rising by 13% in the space of five years.
Prevalence of diabetes in Wales over time
According to NHS Wales, there were 212,716 people registered with diabetes across the nation in 2021/22. This represents year-on-year growth from 2009/10, when the respective figure stood at 153,175 (an increase of 38.9% in 12 years).
Should current diabetes trends continue, our forecasts indicate the number of people in Wales with the condition could reach almost a quarter of a million by 2029/30 (around 100,000 more than the reported figure two decades earlier).
Prevalence of diabetes in Northern Ireland over time
The latest diabetes statistics from the NI Department for Health show that there were 117,711 people registered with diabetes as of 2024/25. This represents sustained growth over time and is more than double compared to figures from 2004/05.
Our estimates suggest that, should these patterns continue, there could be almost 135,000 people across the nation with diabetes by 2029/30—an increase of 14.4% in the space of five years.
How many children and young people have diabetes in the UK?
According to the National Paediatric Diabetes Audit (NPDA) 2025, there are 35,122 Children and Young People (CYP) across England and Wales with diabetes.
Number of children and young people in England and Wales with diabetes
The vast majority of these (95.2%) are located in England, with the remaining 4.8% based in Wales.
Cost of diabetes
The IDF estimates that global diabetes-related health expenditure exceeded $1 trillion in 2024, with North America and the Caribbean (NAC) accounting for more than two-fifths of this amount.
Diabetes-related health expenditure statistics (US$) for different global regions
| IDF region | Total diabetes-related health expenditure ($bn) | Diabetes-related health expenditure per person ($) | Diabetes-related health expenditure as a percentage of total health expenditure for adults (20-79 years) | Diabetes-related health expenditure as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) |
| North America and Caribbean (NAC) | $439bn | $7,812 | 11.2% | 1.9% |
| Western Pacific (WP) | $246bn | $1,174 | 14.9% | 1.1% |
| Europe (EUR) | $193bn | $2,951 | 8.8% | 1.0% |
| South and Central America (SACA) | $81bn | $2,417 | 22.4% | 2.5% |
| Middle East and North Africa (MENA) | $35bn | $429 | 17.0% | 1.3% |
| South-East Asia (SEA) | $12bn | $108 | 9.7% | 0.4% |
| Africa (AFR) | $10bn | $414 | 10.3% | 1.0% |
(Source: IDF)
The 2025 Diabetes Atlas concluded that:
- Total diabetes-related health expenditure in NAC is almost 44 times more compared to Africa (AFR) and more than double that of Europe (EUR).
- The average cost of diabetes per person in NAC is $7,812 (around 2.5 times more than the typical European) and roughly 19 times greater than that of African citizens.
- Diabetes accounts for over a fifth of total health expenditure for adults aged 20-79 in South-East Asia (SEA); double the proportion compared to NAC and around three times the percentage spent in Europe.
- As a proportion of GDP, South and Central American (SACA) nations typically spent around 2.5% on diabetes in 2024. This was more than double the figure for Europe and around five times that of SEA.
Countries with the highest and lowest amount of diabetes-related health expenditure (US$) in adults aged 20-79 (2024)
According to the IDF, the USA had the highest diabetes-related health expenditure for adults aged 20-79 in 2024, at $404.5 billion. This was almost 2.5 times that of China and nearly nine times the amount spent on diabetes by Germany in the same year (second and third, respectively).
Incidentally, the UK ranked sixth in 2024 for the amount spent on diabetes-related health costs, at $23.6 billion.
At the other end of the scale, Niue had the smallest amount of diabetes-related health expenditure for adults aged 20-79 in 2024. At $0.8 billion, this was roughly half the amount compared to the next nation on the list (Nauru) and almost a third of Tuvalu’s total diabetes expenditure for the year.
Countries with the highest and lowest average diabetes-related health expenditure (US$) per adult aged 20-79 with diabetes (2024)
Diabetes statistics from the IDF reveal that Switzerland typically spends the most per person when it comes to diabetes-related health expenditure for those aged between 20 and 79.
In 2024, this equated to an average of $12,234, around a sixth more than a typical resident of the USA or Norway.
The Diabetes Atlas 2025 also shows:
- Nine out of the 10 highest average costs per person on diabetes are situated in Europe.
- Austria and Germany collectively spend around the same average amount per person on diabetes-related health expenditures as Switzerland.
- Bangladesh has the lowest average cost of diabetes, at $74 per adult aged 20-79.
- Six of the 10 countries with the lowest average cost per person for diabetes-related health expenditure are situated in Africa, with the remaining four located in Asia.
How much does diabetes cost the NHS?
A 2024 study by York University concluded that diabetes cost the UK economy almost £14 billion in 2021/22, including £10.7 billion in direct costs to the NHS. This accounts for around 6% of the total UK health budget.
Their findings suggest that:
- More than 40% (approximately £4.4 billion) of this was spent on diabetes diagnosis, treatment, and routine care.
- Around £6.2 billion went towards the cost of associated, largely preventable complications.
By 2035, it’s estimated that the cost of diabetes to the NHS could reach £18 billion (a rise of more than two-thirds in just over a decade).
Type 1 diabetes statistics
What is type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is a condition caused by the body (specifically the pancreas) not producing enough insulin, which results in issues affecting your immune system.
How many people have type 1 diabetes?
Estimates from the IDF suggest that the number of people with type 1 diabetes across all age groups in 2024 stood at 9.2 million. Almost a fifth of these (approximately 1.8 million) are believed to be under the age of 20.
In 2017, the World Health Organisation (WHO) predicted that approximately nine million people worldwide had type 1 diabetes, suggesting a 2.2% increase in seven years.
Countries with the highest number of people living with type 1 diabetes (2024)
| Country | Number of people of all ages living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) | Country | Number of children and adolescents under 20 living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) |
| UK | 341,000 | Egypt | 69,000 |
| Germany | 337,000 | Algeria | 56,000 |
| Canada | 243,000 | Turkey | 47,000 |
| Saudi Arabia | 223,000 | Saudi Arabia | 46,000 |
| Turkey | 196,000 | Morocco | 43,000 |
(Source: IDF)
The 2025 Diabetes Atlas indicates that the USA has the highest number of people living with type 1 diabetes. At almost 1.5 million, this equates to around a sixth of the estimated total global population who have type 1 diabetes.
Further type 1 diabetes statistics from the report reveal:
- The UK has the fifth-highest population in the world for type 1 diabetes, with a reported 341,000 as of 2024.
- India has more children and adolescents under 20 with the condition than any other nation. At 301,000, this is 52.8% more than the USA and almost triple the number found in China (second and third place, respectively).
- Almost a third of those living in India with type 1 diabetes are under the age of 20 (the highest proportion of any nation in the top 10).
Estimated number and proportion of people with type 1 diabetes around the world
A modelling study by Gregory et al. (2022) estimates that there were about 8.4 million people worldwide in 2021 with type 1 diabetes, with approximately 0.5 million new cases diagnosed in that year alone.
Findings from their analysis suggest that:
- More than three-fifths of those with type 1 diabetes were aged between 20 and 50, with a median average age of 29.
- Around 35,000 non-diagnosed individuals died within 12 months of symptomatic onset.
- Roughly 1.8 million (about a fifth) were based in low-income or lower-middle-income countries.
- The life expectancy of a 10-year-old diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2021 ranged from a mean average of 13 years in low-income countries to 65 years in high-income countries. This means those diagnosed with the condition could expect to live five times longer if they were born in a country of higher average wealth compared to those from poorer parts of the world.
- Missing prevalent cases in 2021 were estimated at 3.7 million and are predicted to rise to between 13.5 million and 17.4 million by 2040 (somewhere between 60% and 107% higher than in 2021).
How many people in the UK have type 1 diabetes?
According to estimates from Diabetes.org, less than one in 10 (around 8%) of those with diabetes in the UK have type 1 diabetes.
Child type 1 diabetes statistics in the UK
Diabetes statistics from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP) estimate that there are 32,809 children and young people (CYP) in England and Wales with type 1 diabetes.
Nearly all of these (95.2%) are located in England.
Estimated number and proportion of children and young people with type 1 diabetes in the UK (2023/24)
On average, more than nine in 10 children with diabetes tend to have type 1.
Headline stats from the RCPCH and HQIP analysis also indicate that:
- 66% of those aged 12 and above with type 1 diabetes received all six essential health checks in 2023/24 (those being HbA1c, BMI, blood pressure, thyroid function test, albuminuria screening, and foot checks). This was up from 63% the previous year and was closer to 92% for all CYP.
- The median average HbA1C for CYP with type 1 diabetes fell from 60.5mmol/mol in 2022/23 to 60.0mmol/mol in 2023/24.
- Incidence of type 1 diabetes in those aged 0-15 fell from 31.1 new cases per 100,000 in 2022/23 to 27.6 per 100,000 in 2023/24 (a drop of 11.3% in 12 months).
- More than a quarter (28%) of those aged 12 and above in 2023/24 had a diastolic or systolic blood pressure reading in the hypertensive range (>98th centile after correction for age and gender) compared to 30% in 2022/23.
- 19% of this age group also had a total blood cholesterol of 5mmol/l or higher in 2023/24 (down one percentage point from the previous year).
- More than two-fifths (42%) of CYP with type 1 diabetes had a BMI considered overweight or obese in 2023/24, a figure that has remained the same since 2022/23.
- Around one in 10 children aged 12 and above with type 1 diabetes have an abnormal retinopathy screening result and micro- or macro-albuminuria.
- More than one in four (28%) of those with type 1 diabetes and a known outcome of a psychological assessment were assessed as requiring additional psychological support outside of their multidisciplinary team meetings. This was a reduction of four percentage points from 2022/23 and represents more than 21,000 CYP.
Type 1 diabetes incident rate (per 100,000) in children and young people (CYP) across the UK over time
| Year | Boys | Girls | All |
| 2013/14 | 24.8 | 20.8 | 22.8 |
| 2014/15 | 28.0 | 24.4 | 26.5 |
| 2015/16 | 24.8 | 20.8 | 22.8 |
| 2016/17 | 25.9 | 24.4 | 25.4 |
| 2017/18 | 26.0 | 24.2 | 25.1 |
| 2018/19 | 25.8 | 23.3 | 24.6 |
| 2019/20 | 27.0 | 24.3 | 25.6 |
| 2020/21 | 33.9 | 27.7 | 30.9 |
| 2021/22 | 34.1 | 31.3 | 32.7 |
| 2022/23 | 32.3 | 29.8 | 31.1 |
| 2023/24 | 28.7 | 26.4 | 27.6 |
(Source: RCPCH and HQIP)
As of 2023/24, the type 1 diabetes incident rate for children and young people (CYP) stood at 27.6 per 100,000, a figure that fluctuated over the previous decade from a low of 22.8 per 100,000 up to a high of 31.1 per 100,000 in 2022/23.
Generally speaking, boys from this cohort tend to have a higher prevalence of type 1 diabetes than girls (28.7 per 100,000 vs. 26.4 per 100,000 in 2023/24). This means boys are around 8.7% more likely to be diagnosed with the condition than their female counterparts.
Did you know?
According to a 10-year review of trends in children with type 1 diabetes across England and Wales, there were an estimated 400,000 people with a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in 2020/21. Approximately 7.5% of these (roughly 30,000) were aged between 0 and 18 years old.
Their findings also highlight an increase of 27.4% in boys and 12.6% in girls for the prevalence of type 1 diabetes between 2019/20 and 2020/21.
Furthermore, according to estimates from Diabetes.org, the UK has the fourth-highest population of CYP with diabetes in Europe, with approximately 35,000 under the age of 19. The vast majority of these (96%) have type 1 diabetes.
Median HbA1c for children and young people with type 1 diabetes in England and Wales over time
As of 2023/24, the median average HbA1c for children and young people (CYP) with type 1 diabetes stood at 60.5mmol/mol for England and 60.0mmol/mol for Wales.
Both of these figures witnessed a decline over the previous decade, from a peak of 69mmol/mol in 2013/14. This represents a fall of 12.3% in the median HbA1c for CYP with type 1 diabetes in England and a decrease of 13% for those in Wales in the space of 10 years.
Mean average glycated haemoglobin for children and young people with type 1 diabetes in England and Wales by ethnic group over time
| Year | Black | Mixed | Asian | Other | White |
| 2013/14 | 78.0 | 73.7 | 72.5 | 72.1 | 70.5 |
| 2014/15 | 77.8 | 73.3 | 72.2 | 72.3 | 69.9 |
| 2015/16 | 74.0 | 70.6 | 69.3 | 69.6 | 67.7 |
| 2016/17 | 74.2 | 68.7 | 68.7 | 68.2 | 66.7 |
| 2017/18 | 74.9 | 69.6 | 68.8 | 67.0 | 67.0 |
| 2018/19 | 71.4 | 67.5 | 66.2 | 63.7 | 64.6 |
| 2019/20 | 71.9 | 67.4 | 65.8 | 63.0 | 64.6 |
| 2020/21 | 70.9 | 67.2 | 65.2 | 63.3 | 63.9 |
| 2021/22 | 70.7 | 66.4 | 65.0 | 62.7 | 63.4 |
| 2022/23 | 69.9 | 66.1 | 64.2 | 62.9 | 63.1 |
| 2023/24 | 70.8 | 65.7 | 63.9 | 63.6 | 63.1 |
(Source: RCPCH and HQIP)
According to type 1 diabetes statistics from the RCPCH and HQIP, the mean average glycated haemoglobin for children and young people (CYP) with type 1 diabetes across England and Wales gradually decreased between 2013/14 and 2023/24 across most ethnic groups.
As of 2023/24, average glycated haemoglobin levels in CYP with type 1 diabetes were highest in the Black population. Yet, this did represent a decrease of 9.2% over the previous 10 years.
By contrast, the lowest average glycated haemoglobin in CYP with type 1 diabetes in 2023/24 was found in those from the White population. At 63.1mmol/mol, this was typically 10.9% lower than those from the Black community and indicated a drop of 10.5% within their ethnic group compared to a decade earlier.
Mean average glycated haemoglobin for children and young people with type 1 diabetes in England and Wales over time by deprivation quintile
| Year | Most deprived | Second most deprived | Third least deprived | Second least deprived | Least deprived |
| 2013/14 | 74.7 | 74.0 | 72.2 | 70.4 | 69.0 |
| 2014/15 | 73.7 | 72.3 | 70.6 | 69.0 | 67.2 |
| 2015/16 | 71.6 | 69.6 | 68.1 | 66.7 | 64.8 |
| 2016/17 | 70.7 | 68.7 | 67.0 | 65.6 | 64.0 |
| 2017/18 | 70.9 | 68.7 | 67.5 | 65.9 | 64.2 |
| 2018/19 | 68.2 | 66.2 | 65.0 | 64.3 | 61.9 |
| 2019/20 | 68.3 | 66.1 | 65.1 | 62.7 | 62.0 |
| 2020/21 | 67.8 | 65.2 | 64.4 | 62.3 | 60.7 |
| 2021/22 | 67.6 | 65.1 | 63.3 | 61.8 | 60.1 |
| 2022/23 | 66.8 | 65.0 | 63.0 | 61.8 | 59.9 |
| 2023/24 | 66.6 | 65.2 | 63.2 | 61.8 | 60.0 |
(Source: RCPCH and HQIP)
Type 1 diabetes stats from the RCPCH and HQIP show that the mean average glycated haemoglobin for CYP with type 1 diabetes has gradually decreased over time for most in England and Wales, regardless of their area’s level of deprivation.
As of 2023/24, average glycated haemoglobin levels in CYP with type 1 diabetes were highest in those from the most deprived communities (66.6mmol/mol). Yet, this did represent a decrease of 10.8% over the previous decade.
By contrast, the lowest average glycated haemoglobin in CYP with type 1 diabetes in 2023/24 was found in those living in the least deprived neighbourhoods. At 60.0mmol/mol, this was typically 9.9% lower than those from the most deprived areas and indicated a drop of 13% compared to 10 years earlier.
Type 2 diabetes statistics
What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is a condition where your body is unable to produce enough insulin or your body doesn’t respond to the insulin, known as insulin resistance. Type 2 diabetes is different from type 1 diabetes, as it can be prevented and managed with certain lifestyle changes (such as diet, exercise, and/or medication).
How many people have type 2 diabetes?
Estimates of the global population with type 2 diabetes vary depending on the source.
The IDF suggests that more than 90% of people globally with diabetes have type 2 diabetes, compared to the WHO, which places the respective figure at more than 95%.
How many people have type 2 diabetes in the UK?
According to Diabetes.org, type 2 diabetes accounts for approximately 90% of those with diabetes across the UK.
They estimate that around 6.3 million people are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes based on their blood sugar levels, and roughly 1.3 million are living with the condition but have yet to be formally diagnosed.
This would put the UK diabetic population somewhere around 12.1 million.
Research suggests that combined lifestyle interventions (such as diet, physical activity, and sustained weight loss) could reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by around 50%.
Every week across the UK, diabetes leads to an average of:
- 184 amputations
- 980 strokes
- 680 heart attacks
- 3,230 cases of heart failure.
In 2023/23, there were 71 million prescriptions for people with diabetes in England. This was an increase of 42% from 2015/16, when the figure was closer to 50 million.
Did you know?
People of Chinese, Black African, Black Caribbean, and Asian (including Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi) ethnicities are between two and four times more likely to have diabetes than White populations.
How has the NHS responded to growing diabetes trends in the UK?
As of June 2024, more than half a million (549,000) more people in England were identified by the NHS as being at risk of developing type 2 diabetes within the next 12 months.
The National Diabetes Audit showed that:
- More than 3.6 million people registered with a GP were found to have non-diabetic hyperglycemia (pre-diabetes) in 2023, compared to less than 3.1 million in 2022. This represented an increase of almost a fifth in the space of a year.
- For those under 40, there was an increase of almost a quarter during the same period, from 173,166 to 216,440.
- Around 1.6 million people have been offered support through the Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.
- Health chiefs are investing £14.5 million to support 140,000 people aged 18 to 39 to receive tailored health checks and support with diabetes management.
- Approximately 10,000 more people living with type 2 diabetes and excess weight/obesity in England will be able to access the NHS Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme to help lose weight and improve their overall health.
- More than 23,000 people have already been offered the programme since it was piloted in 2020.
- The NHS spends around £10 billion a year currently (roughly 10% of the national budget) on monitoring and treating diabetes, with approximately £6.5 million a year on treating obesity.
- Since the Covid-19 pandemic, local NHS teams have been given £36 million by NHS England to help restore their diabetes services to pre-pandemic levels.
Number of cases of diabetes or non-diabetic hyperglycaemia (NDH) in the UK (2023-24)
Data from Diabetes UK suggests that around one in five adults is now living with diabetes or pre-diabetes. This means approximately 4.6 million people had a diabetes diagnosis as of 2023/24 (an increase of 4.5% in 12 months).
It is believed that 8% have type 1, 90% have type 2, and 2% have different/rarer forms of the condition.
Child type 2 diabetes statistics in the UK
According to the National Paediatric Diabetes Audit (NPDA) 2025, there are thought to be 1,359 children and young people (CYP) in England and Wales with type 2 diabetes. The vast majority of these (97.4%) are located in England.
On average, less than one in 25 CYP with diabetes in England and Wales has type 2 diabetes.
Overall, the number of CYP with type 2 diabetes in England and Wales increased by 72% between 2018/19 and 2023/24.
Estimated number and proportion of children and young people with type 2 diabetes in the UK (2023/24)
| Est. no. of children and young people with type 2 diabetes | Proportion of children and young people with diabetes who have type 2 diabetes (%) | |
| England | 1,323 | 4.0% |
| Wales | 36 | 2.1% |
| England and Wales | 1,359 | 3.9% |
(Source: RCPCH and HQIP)
Type 2 diabetes statistics from the RCPCH and HQIP reveal that, for CYP with type 2 diabetes across England and Wales in 2023/24:
- Around 94% had a BMI considered overweight or obese.
- 37% of those aged 12 and over received all six health checks (HbA1c, BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol, albuminuria screening, and foot checks), compared to 36% in the previous year.
- 46% had a diastolic or systolic blood pressure in the hypertensive range (>98th centile after correction for age and gender), down one percentage point from 2022/23.
- 32% had total blood cholesterol of 5mmol/l or higher, compared to 30% in the previous year.
- Just 7% aged 12 and above had an abnormal retinopathy screen (vs. 6% in 2022/23).
- 21% had micro- or macro-albuminuria (unchanged from the previous year).
- The national median HbA1c increased 0.5mmol/mol in the space of 12 months (from 49.5mmol/mol to 50.0mmol/mol).
Furthermore, almost two in five (39%) of those with type 2 diabetes and a known outcome of psychological assessment were assessed as requiring additional psychological support outside their multidisciplinary team meetings. This represented 614 individuals and was a two percentage point decrease from the 2022/23 figures.
"We're seeing younger patients needing diabetes medications and an increasing demand for blood glucose monitors and testing supplies.
"Parents can make simple lifestyle changes - better diet and encouraging your child to be more active rather than looking at a screen – but it’s important to make changes as a family, not for just one child."
Ian Budd (Prescribing Pharmacist at Chemist4U)
Pre-diabetes statistics
Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)
According to estimates from the IDF, there are approximately 634.8 million people worldwide aged between 20 and 79 who are considered to be prediabetic with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).
The prevalence and number of people in the world with IGT aged 20-79 (2024 vs. 2050)
By 2050, this figure is projected to rise by a third to 846.5 million.
The prevalence and number of people in the world with IGT aged 20-79 by different global regions (2024 vs. 2050)
| IDF region | Age-standardised IGT prevalence (%) in 2024 | Age-standardised IGT prevalence (%) in 2050 |
| SEA | 13.8% | 14.6% |
| WP | 13.5% | 14.3% |
| NAC | 11.6% | 12.6% |
| AFR | 11.5% | 13.7% |
| SACA | 11.0% | 11.9% |
| MENA | 11.0% | 11.6% |
| EUR | 5.9% | 6.2% |
(Source: IDF)
The 2025 Diabetes Atlas indicates that the Western Pacific (WP) region has more people with IGT prediabetes than any other. At roughly 251.3 million in 2024, this equates to almost two-fifths of the global total.
By 2050, this figure is projected to increase by approximately 6.6% to 267.8 million people.
Conversely, South and Central America (SACA) was estimated to have the lowest number of IGT prediabetics as of 2024, at 38.7 million. This constitutes just 6.1% of all adults aged 20-79 around the world with IGT (almost a seventh of the WP’s total figure).
Africa is predicted to see the largest percentage growth in its IGT prediabetic population between 2024 and 2050 (+137.9%), with Europe expected to see the smallest increase at 0.7%.
The prevalence and number of people in the world with IGT aged 20-79 between high, middle, and low-income countries (2024 vs. 2050)
According to diabetes statistics from the IDF, more than three-quarters of those aged 20-79 in 2024 with IGT were located in middle-income countries. By contrast, approximately 17% were from high-income nations, and just over 5% were located in the poorest parts of the globe.
By 2050, the estimated number of people with prediabetes in the developing world is predicted to increase by more than double (+144%), compared to a rise of almost a third in middle-income countries and just 3.8% in the wealthiest nations.
In terms of IGT prediabetes prevalence, around one in eight people aged 20-79 living in a middle-income country in 2024 could expect to have the condition, compared to around one in 10 for high-income nations.
By the mid-century, IGT prediabetes is forecasted to be most prevalent in populations from low-income countries (almost one in seven).
Impaired fasting glucose (IFG)
According to predictions from the IDF, there are around 487.7 million people worldwide aged between 20 and 79 with impaired fasting glucose (IFG).
The prevalence and number of people in the world with IFG aged 20-79 (2024 vs. 2050)
By 2050, this figure is forecasted to rise by almost a third to 647.5 million.
The prevalence and number of people in the world with IFG aged 20-79 by different global regions (2024 vs. 2050)
| IDF region | Age-standardised IFG prevalence (%) in 2024 | Age-standardised IFG prevalence (%) in 2050 |
| NAC | 13.6% | 14.3% |
| SEA | 12.2% | 12.8% |
| SACA | 9.2% | 10.0% |
| WP | 8.6% | 9.2% |
| MENA | 8.0% | 8.4% |
| AFR | 6.6% | 7.4% |
| EUR | 5.3% | 5.7% |
(Source: IDF)
The 2025 Diabetes Atlas indicates that South-East Asia (SEA) has the highest number of people with IFG prediabetes among all regions. At approximately 129.4 million in 2024, this equates to just over a quarter of the global total.
By 2050, this figure is projected to increase by almost two-fifths to 180.9 million people.
Conversely, South and Central America (SACA) was estimated to have the lowest number of prediabetics with IFG as of 2024, at 32.2 million. This constitutes just 6.6% of all adults aged 20-79 around the world with IFG (roughly a quarter of the SEA’s total figure).
Africa is predicted to see the largest percentage growth in its IFG prediabetic population between 2024 and 2050 (+134.3%), with Europe expected to see the smallest increase at 1.8%.
The prevalence and number of people in the world with IFG aged 20-79 between high, middle, and low-income countries (2024 vs. 2050)
Diabetes stats from the IDF indicate that more than three-quarters of those aged 20-79 in 2024 with IFG were based in middle-income countries. Conversely, around 17.2% were from high-income nations, and roughly 4.6% were situated in the poorest parts of the world.
By 2050, the estimated number of people with prediabetes in low-income countries is predicted to increase by more than double (+129.8%). A rise of one-third is also expected in the middle-income nations and 5.4% in the wealthiest areas of the globe.
By the mid-century, IFG prediabetes is predicted to be most prevalent in middle-income countries, representing more than one in 10 of the population.
Gestational diabetes statistics
What is gestational diabetes?
Gestational diabetes refers to high blood sugar levels (i.e. glucose) that develop during pregnancy. It can happen at any stage of the pregnancy, but is most common in the second or third trimester. It is caused when the body cannot produce enough insulin to meet the extra demand while pregnant.
Worldwide gestational diabetes statistics
According to the 2025 Diabetes Atlas, there are an estimated 118.5 million global live births each year involving women aged 20-49.
Global estimates on the prevalence and number of people affected by hyperglycemia in pregnancy (2024)
| Statement | Value |
| Number of global live births in women aged 20-49 years | 118.5mn |
| Number of live births affected | 23.0mn |
| Proportion of live births affected (%) | 19.7% |
| Proportion of cases due to GDM | 79.2% |
| Proportion of cases due to other types of diabetes first detected in pregnancy | 9.9% |
| Proportion of cases due to diabetes detected before pregnancy | 11.0% |
(Source: IDF)
The IDF suggests that approximately a fifth of these pregnancies are impacted by hyperglycemia, with as many as four in five affected by Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM).
The prevalence and number of people in the world affected by hyperglycemia in pregnancy across different global regions (2024)
| IDF region | Age-standardised prevalence (%) | Prevalence (%) | Number of live births affected (mn) |
| World | 19.7% | 19.7% | 23.0mn |
| South-East Asia (SEA) | 31.7% | 27.8% | 7.1mn |
| North America and Caribbean (NAC) | 22.4% | 23.6% | 1.4mn |
| Western Pacific (WP) | 19.8% | 20.8% | 4.2mn |
| Middle East and North Africa) MENA | 19.4% | 19.7% | 3.6mn |
| South and Central America (SACA) | 15.8% | 16.0% | 1.0mn |
| Europe (EUR) | 14.2% | 15.9% | 1.5mn |
| Africa (AFR) | 13.8% | 13.9% | 4.7mn |
(Source: IDF)
Of the estimated 23 million births impacted by hyperglycemia in 2024, less than a third of these were based on women from South-East Asia (SEA), with approximately a fifth from those based in Africa. Conversely, just 4.4% of births in South and Central America (SACA) were impacted by this condition.
Hyperglycemia was most prevalent in SEA, where more than one in four births were affected in 2024. This was contrasted by women from Africa, where roughly one in seven women experienced a hyperglycemic pregnancy.
The prevalence of hyperglycemia in pregnancy across different age groups (2024)
Analysis by the IDF concludes that the prevalence of hyperglycemia in pregnancy tends to increase with age.
For example, women aged 45 to 49 are around four times more likely to experience hyperglycemia during pregnancy compared to those in their early 20s.
Gestational diabetes statistics in the UK
According to Diabetes.org, gestational diabetes is less common than type 1 or type 2 diabetes, affecting roughly one in every 20 pregnancies in the UK.
Recent gestational diabetes statistics from NHS England suggest that, out of the 700,000 women who give birth each year in England, around 30,000 have Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM).
They also conclude that:
- Up to 50% of women diagnosed with GDM develop type 2 diabetes within five years of their diagnosis.
- People with diabetes are up to five times more likely to develop heart disease or have a stroke than those without.
- Those completing the Healthier You NHS Diabetes Programme can cut their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by more than a third.
Percentage of pregnant women with diabetes by level of socioeconomic deprivation
Data from NHS England reveals that:
- Women living in the most deprived parts of the country are more likely to be diagnosed with gestational diabetes than those from the least deprived neighbourhoods.
- More than a third of pregnant women in the fifth quintile (i.e. the most deprived areas) had type 2 diabetes, compared to around one in 15 from the least deprived.
- Just under a quarter of those from the poorest regions had a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. The respective figure for the wealthiest areas was less than one in six.
Percentage of pregnant women with diabetes in England who gave birth to Large for Gestational Age (LGA) birthweight babies over time
The most recent figures from NHS England suggest that just under half of pregnant women with type 1 diabetes gave birth to Large for Gestational Age (LGA) birthweight babies in 2021/22. This was around double the proportion for those with type 2 diabetes.
These stats reflect a small decrease from 2019/20 of 5.6 and 1.5 percentage points, respectively.
Research by the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre found that:
- Processing blood sugar tests from mothers at risk of gestational diabetes could lead to a more accurate diagnosis.
- 9% of the women in the study were already diagnosed with the condition. However, when processed quickly, 22% were found to have gestational diabetes, meaning that 13% were missed with the standard test.
- Overall, this means more than half the women from this sample found to have gestational diabetes would have gone undiagnosed using traditional methods.
- This could affect 28,000 to 30,000 pregnant women in the UK every year.
- 37% of these women went on to have large babies (a complication that could have been prevented if affected women were diagnosed earlier and had access to the appropriate treatment).
Furthermore, a survey by Gestational Diabetes UK involving 3,270 women who have had a gestational diabetes pregnancy and birth found that:
- 77% were screened using a glucose tolerance test.
- 33% were screened between 24 and 28 weeks, with 23% between 28 and 32 weeks.
- 67% said the main reason for gestational diabetes screening was risk factors for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM).
- Almost half identified a BMI of more than 30 as a significant risk factor in their diagnosis.
- Around a third were diagnosed within a week of seeing the Diabetes Antenatal Team, with a sixth being seen within 2/3 days.
Incidentally, 8% of those who had gestational diabetes are now pre-diabetic or diagnosed as having type 2 diabetes.
"This condition affects roughly one in six pregnancies and can pose real risks - including larger babies, difficult deliveries, and increased chances of developing type 2 diabetes later.
"The encouraging news is that women aren't powerless against it. Maintaining a balanced diet with plenty of vegetables, lean proteins, and complex carbohydrates whilst limiting sugary treats makes a difference. Regular gentle exercise - even just a daily walk - helps keep blood sugar levels stable.
"If you're planning a pregnancy, starting at a healthy weight significantly reduces your risk."
Jason Murphy (Head of Pharmacy at Chemist4U)
Obesity and diabetes statistics
Obesity is a chronic and complex disease that can lead to an increased risk of certain conditions, including type 2 diabetes.
In 2021, higher-than-optimal BMI caused an estimated 3.7 million deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular disease, cancers, neurological disorders, and diabetes.
A 2023 report in The Lancet concluded that just over half (52.2%) of global type 2 diabetes cases could be attributed to high BMI, with prevalence rates rising by almost a quarter (24.3%) between 1990 and 2021, largely due to people having an excessive BMI.
By 2050, estimates suggest more than 1.31 billion people around the world could have diabetes, with 43% of countries experiencing an age-standardised rate greater than 10%.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are believed to cause around 41 million deaths per year and account for approximately 71% of all global deaths (15 million of which are considered premature).
In 2013, members of the World Obesity Federation (WOF) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) adopted a set of voluntary targets to reduce the impact of NCDs by 2025, one of which was to stop the rise of obesity and diabetes. This would involve a 25% relative reduction in overall mortality rates from NCDs.
Recent projections show this target will not be met, with one million people globally expected to be living with obesity in 2030 and 642 million with diabetes.
Obesity is responsible for around 43% of all cases of type 2 diabetes, rising to 85% for some populations.
The root causes of obesity and type 2 diabetes are generally considered to be:
- Sedentary lifestyles - physical inactivity increases the risk of developing NCDs by up to 30% and shortens life expectancy by an average of three to five years. As countries develop economically, levels of physical activity can decrease by as much as 70% due to changes in transportation patterns, technological innovations, and shifting cultural values.
- Unhealthy diets - Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) contribute to more than 50% of the calories consumed by children worldwide every day. Healthy diets remain unaffordable for 41.9% of the global population, with socioeconomic disparities increasing the risk of malnutrition for around three billion people globally, including obesity.
- Genetics - between 40% and 70% of those who are classified as obese are due to their genes, with anything between 25% and 80% for type 2 diabetes. Those with a parent who has type 2 diabetes are 40% more likely to develop the condition themselves. This rises to almost 70% for those with two parents who have type 2 diabetes.
- Other factors include poor sleep, societal stigma, access to healthcare services, and commercial determinants of health (such as social marketing by food companies).
Obesity and diabetes statistics in the UK
According to Diabetes.co.uk, the UK has one of the highest rates of adult obesity in Western Europe, with around 26% classed as obese and 38% as overweight. This means nearly two-thirds of UK adults are carrying some form of excess body weight.
They also claim that:
- The rate for children suggests nearly one in three youngsters aged 10-11 is now overweight or obese, with nearly a third of children aged 2 to 15 falling into one of these two categories.
- Between 80% and 85% of those in the UK with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese.
- People with obesity are up to 80 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those with a BMI of 22 or less.
- A 5% reduction in body weight could improve insulin sensitivity, reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels, and reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by more than 50%.
Should present trends continue, more than 70% of UK adults could be considered overweight or obese by 2040.
Rates of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes in England by BMI category
| BMI | Percentage of those with diagnosed diabetes (%) | Percentage of those with undiagnosed diabetes (%) |
| Healthy weight | 4% | 2% |
| Overweight | 4% | 3% |
| Obese | 9% | 9% |
(Source: NHS England)
Diabetes statistics from NHS England suggest that those classed as obese are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with diabetes compared to those with a healthy BMI or classified as overweight.
Similarly, undiagnosed diabetes is around 4.5 times more common in those with a BMI rating of obese than those with a healthy weight and three times more likely compared to those people from the overweight category.
Diabetes life expectancy and death statistics
A systematic review by the IDF of evidence up until December 2024 found that, compared to those without diabetes, people with type 2 diabetes face a:
- 60% higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease
- 73% higher risk of myocardial infarctions (heart attacks)
- 54% higher risk of stroke
- 84% higher risk of heart failure
How many people die from diabetes each year?
According to the WHO, there were around 1.6 million diabetes deaths per year globally in 2021 due to diabetes, with a further 530,000 due to kidney disease caused by the condition.
They also estimate that 11% of cardiovascular deaths are attributed to high blood glucose levels, with less than half (47%) of deaths from diabetes occurring before the age of 70.
Diabetes statistics from Diabetes.org suggest that the number of older adults living with type 1 diabetes increased by 28% between 2019 and 1990, yet dropped by 25% for older people during the same period.
They also found that the number of years spent living with poor health and experiencing diabetes-related complications also dropped over this time.
Improvements in health outcomes varied by location, with more people with type 2 diabetes surviving to older age in high-income countries than those from low-income countries.
Furthermore, PLOS Medicine concluded that the longer a type 2 diabetes diagnosis can be held off in people with prediabetes, the more likely they are to live longer, healthier lives.
Their analysis of 540 people with diagnosed prediabetes discovered that those who held off a type 2 diabetes diagnosis for at least four years had a lower risk of developing cardiovascular issues (i.e. heart attacks, stroke, premature death) than those who were diagnosed after two years.
Life expectancy and diabetes deaths per year in the UK
The most recent data from the Department for Health and Social Care suggests that 62,353 people died in England due to diabetes in 2023. This resulted in an average of 109.9 deaths per 100,000 people.
The number of deaths in England over time due to diabetes
The number of reported diabetes deaths has gradually risen year-on-year since 2001, increasing by almost 39,000 in just over two decades (+166.9%).
There could be more than 89,000 diabetes deaths across England by 2030 (a rise of 43% in seven years), according to our forecasts on current diabetes trends.
The number of deaths in Scotland over time due to diabetes
| Year | No. of deaths due to diabetes | Percentage of deaths due to diabetes (%) |
| 2019 | 13,651 | 3.7% |
| 2020 | 13,641 | 3.9% |
| 2021 | 13,784 | 4.0% |
| 2022 | 13,437 | 4.1% |
| 2023 | 11,946 | 3.7% |
(Source: NHS Scotland)
According to NHS Scotland, there were 11,946 registered deaths in 2023 across the nation due to diabetes, representing 3.4% of all deaths for the year.
This represents a 13.3% decrease from 2021, when the figures peaked at 13,784.
Diabetes deaths as a percentage of all deaths in Scotland have fallen year-on-year since 2019 and by a total of one percentage point over these five years.
The number of deaths in Wales over time due to diabetes
| Year | Type 1 | Type 2 | Unspecified |
| 2020 | 26 | 255 | 181 |
| 2021 | 37 | 268 | 148 |
| 2022 | 43 | 309 | 138 |
| 2023* | 44 | 341 | 129 |
| 2024* | 44 | 375 | 120 |
| 2025* | 47 | 408 | 112 |
| 2026* | 52 | 441 | 103 |
| 2027* | 57 | 474 | 94 |
| 2028* | 60 | 411 | 86 |
| 2029* | 62 | 422 | 77 |
| 2030* | 66 | 406 | 69 |
(Source: Chemist4U)
*Forecasted data
The most recent data from NHS Wales shows that, in 2022, 490 people died due to the underlying cause being diabetes in Wales. More than three-fifths of these deaths involved those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and less than one in 10 affected someone with type 1 diabetes.
Between 2002 and 2022, the number of diabetes deaths across Wales fluctuated from a low of 300 in 2013 up to the peak figures recorded in 2022. This represented a rise of more than three-fifths in nine years.
Our forecasts suggest that, should this upward trajectory continue, deaths from diabetes in Wales could reach a new peak of 625 in 2027, an increase of 27.6% over these five years.
FAQs about diabetes
How common is diabetes?
According to the IDF, diabetes affects around one in nine people globally. In the UK, there are an estimated 5.8 million people with diabetes, equating to approximately 8.5% of the population (or one in 12 people).
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
The symptoms of diabetes can vary from person to person, but some of the most commonly reported ones are an increase in:
- Thirst and hunger
- Urination, especially at night
- Fatigue and feeling tired
- Weight loss
- Itching around the genitals
- Average time for wounds to heal
- Irritability and mood swings
- Gum and skin infections
- Ketones in your urine
If you have any healthcare concerns, then consult your GP, who’ll be on hand to offer expert advice and guidance.
What causes diabetes?
Diabetes is commonly caused by either your body not producing enough insulin or the insulin not working properly (known as insulin resistance). This hormone helps your body turn glucose (sugar) into energy.
The exact reason for this is unknown, as this can also be affected by genetic and/or environmental factors, which vary between populations and locations.
What causes low blood sugar without diabetes?
The NHS considers it rare to have low blood sugar and not have diabetes. However, it can be caused by malnutrition, Addison’s disease, or the presence of a growth (tumour) in your pancreas.
In some instances, taking the incorrect medication, excessive alcohol drinking, and severe liver illnesses, such as hepatitis and cirrhosis, have been known to trigger low blood sugar levels in patients without diabetes.
How to test for diabetes
Testing for diabetes can be done through a blood test and arranged via your GP.
You can do a finger-prick test at home, which may indicate high levels of sugar in your blood. Although this won’t confirm whether you have diabetes or not. Instead, you’ll need to have a blood test sent to a lab for analysis.
This can come in many forms:
- A1C test - your average blood sugar level over the previous two or three months
- Fasting blood sugar test - your blood sugar levels after an overnight fast (i.e. not eating)
- Glucose tolerance test - your blood sugar levels before and after you drink a liquid containing glucose
- Random blood sugar test - your blood sugar levels at the time you’re tested
What foods to avoid with diabetes
Avoiding certain foods can help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and better help those with the condition manage the impacts.
Our top tips for eating well with diabetes involve reducing your consumption of the following food items:
- Sugary drinks (e.g. fizzy/energy drinks, fruit juice, and smoothies). You could replace these with water, milk, tea or coffee (with no added sugar).
- Starchy foods (e.g. white bread, white rice, and breakfast cereals). Instead, consider wholegrain options as an alternative. Fruit and vegetables, pulses, and unsweetened dairy products can also provide a healthy source of carbohydrates.
- Red and processed meat (e.g. pork, beef, and lamb). Better options for protein could be pulses, eggs, fish, chicken, turkey, and unsalted nuts.
- Alcohol should be consumed in moderation. The current guidelines are no more than 14 units per week, spread out over three/four days.
- Sugary snacks (e.g. crisps, biscuits, sweets, and chocolate). Look to healthier alternatives where possible, such as fruit, vegetables, seeds, and unsalted nuts.
- Unhealthy fats (e.g. those from animal products and sugary snacks). Consider switching these for unsalted nuts, seeds, avocado and alternative oils such as olive oil, rapeseed oil, and sunflower oil.
- Salt is already found in lots of food items and should be limited to a maximum of one teaspoon (6g) a day. Cooking more from scratch means you can control your salt intake better through the ingredients you pick.
The key to all of this is balance and moderation. Healthier eating is just one way to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. It’s recommended to consult a doctor or nutritionist before making any significant changes to your diet.
How to prevent diabetes
According to Diabetes.org, preventing type 2 diabetes is possible through a mixture of lifestyle changes. However, in most cases, this is about reducing the risk. This can be achieved through eating more healthily, increasing your level of exercise and physical activity, stopping smoking (if applicable) and losing any excess body weight.
Combining these activities could reduce your likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 50%.
The Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is also available, identifying those at risk of developing the condition and referring them to a nine-month, evidence-based personalised lifestyle plan.
Is diabetes a disability?
Yes, if you’re unable to manage your diabetes without insulin, medication, or treatment, then diabetes can be classed as a disability under the Equality Act 2010.
Is diabetes a chronic disease?
Yes, according to the WHO, diabetes is a chronic disease that is caused when the body does not produce enough insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Over time, this can lead to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, nervous system, and eyes.
How common is type 1 diabetes?
The IDF Diabetes Atlas 2025 estimates that there are 9.2 million people worldwide with type 1 diabetes across all age groups. Almost a fifth of these are believed to be under the age of 20.
Estimates from Diabetes.org suggest that less than one in 10 (around 8%) of those with diabetes in the UK have type 1 diabetes, equating to approximately 448,000 people.
Is type 1 diabetes genetic?
Not necessarily. The genetics behind type 1 diabetes is complex. Having certain genes can increase the risk, but there is not one single gene that guarantees you’ll develop the condition. Scientific research suggests that the development of type 1 diabetes can be a mixture of genetics and environmental factors. Some viral infections, such as Human Enteroviruses (HEVs), have been detected in small studies of those with type 1 diabetes, but no firm conclusions are yet to be drawn.
Some studies also suggest that the gut microbiome could influence our health, such as how the immune system operates and how we break down sugar in the body. A better understanding of this relationship could also provide a link between those who develop type 1 diabetes and those who don’t.
What level of blood sugar is dangerous for type 2 diabetes?
Determining what is considered a high (or dangerous) level of blood sugar depends on which type of blood test you have done.
- HbA1c (performed by a health professional) - 48mmol/mol or above
- Fasting glucose test - more than 7mmol/mol
- Home test after waking up or before eating - more than 7mmol/mol
- Home test done at any other time - more than 11mmol/mol
The above blood sugar levels are a guide, as results may differ depending on your age, gender, and the type of diabetes you have. It’s advised to check with your GP or care team when analysing your blood sugar test results.
Can you reverse type 2 diabetes?
It’s theoretically possible to reverse type 2 diabetes. However, there is no guarantee that this will be permanent or that your diabetes will be gone forever. More likely is that your type 2 diabetes is put into remission.
This is when your blood sugar levels dip below the diabetes range and no longer require you to take medication. Studies suggest that the main way in which this can be achieved is through sustained weight loss. However, research is still in its early days, and further analysis is needed to better understand the causes of type 2 diabetes remission.
Sources and methodology
http://www.rcpch.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2025-03/rcpch_npda_summary_report_on_2025_data_r4_0.pdf
Prevalence of diabetes in the UK over time and associated mortality rates (exclusive data)
Annual figures for the number of people registered with diabetes were collected using the NHS’s National Diabetes Audit, Public Health Wales, Scottish Diabetes Survey, and Northern Ireland’s Stats Register.
Where applicable, this was limited to individuals aged 17 and above.
Data was also collected on the number of deaths caused by diabetes in the UK.
Forecasts were then generated up to 2030 using FORECAST.ETS. This applies exponential smoothing to model seasonality and trends based on historical data to project how many people could be expected to die from diabetes in the UK in the coming years.
Note: Data completeness does vary between nations, and the differences in age banding, collection years, and data granularity may affect direct comparability.
