24,000 Diabetes Related Deaths Could Be Prevented Yearly in UK

Diabetes UK has published a report on the number of deaths related to diabetes each year. This is the first study ever to be conducted in the country. The UK’s largest organization for fighting diabetes has conducted the study to assess how many death could have been prevented. This study can give doctors and patients some insight into what they can do to better manage the condition.

According to the study, 24,000 diabetes related deaths each year could have been prevented with more discipline and better medical treatment. This represents about  a third of the people in the United Kingdom who suffer from diabetes. Many of the people in the study could have benefited from better medications, more frequent checkups, more exercise and a better diet.

Barbara Young, chief executive of Diabetes UK, said these were very alarming statistics. “There is no reason why people with diabetes cannot live long and healthy lives if they receive the right care and support to help them manage their conditions.”

The study tracked different demographics to determine how diabetes changed the life expectancy of patients. The researchers found that younger groups were more likely to  die from the disease than older patients. The likelihood of a woman in the 15-34 year-old age group dying from the disease was nine times higher than that of the general population. Men in the same age group were four times more likely to die if they were diagnosed with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Within the general population, the chance of a patient with type 1 diabetes dying was 2.6 times higher.

Although the National Diabetes Information Service expects the number of deaths to increase with the number of people being diagnosed with diabetes. However, Bob Young, spokesman for Diabetes UK said it doesn’t have to be that way. Dr. Young said that health professionals working with diabetic patients can work to reverse these horrible statistics.

The statistics were shocking to many medical professionals and organizations, including England’s Department of Health. As the first study ever conducted on the prognosis of diabetic patients, this study may come at the perfect time. The National Health Service has conducted an audit which suggests that 800,000 more patients are likely to be diagnosed with diabetes in the coming year. This is a very grim statistic for the country.

[box type=”important”]Paul Burstow of the Health Department said that these figures are unacceptable. Burstow said his agency will be holding the NHS accountable whenever it fails to live up to its responsibility to deliver high-quality care to patients suffering from the disease.[/box]