Diabetes crisis threatens to cripple the NHS as one in ten adults are now affected by the condition
Public Health England says another 940,000 adults may suffer from diabetes without realising
A DIABETES epidemic threatens to cripple the NHS with nearly one in ten adults now affected, health experts warn.
About 3.8million people in England alone are known to have the condition.
But Public Health England says another 940,000 adults may have diabetes without realising.
It raises the risk of blindness, heart disease and strokes.
PHE said its latest figures showed nine per cent of those aged 16 or over had diabetes — while 24 per cent of people aged over 75 have it.
In 2009, the last time the total was added up, three million adults had diabetes.
Health experts say some of the increase is due to a change in the way data is gathered.
Most sufferers have type two diabetes, which is largely triggered by unhealthy lifestyles.
Type one tends to develop in childhood as a result of the immune system going haywire.
The NHS already spends £8.8billion a year treating diabetes, with the number of sufferers set to rise to five million by 2035.
As well as poor diet and lack of exercise, it is partly fuelled by an ageing population.
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PHE’s John Newton said: “The number of people with diabetes has been steadily increasing and tackling it is fundamental to the sustainable future of the NHS.
“But it is not an inevitable part of ageing.
“We have an opportunity to reverse this trend and safeguard the health of the nation and the future of the NHS.”
Earlier this year the PHE launched the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme to target those at risk of type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes UK chief executive Chris Askew said: "These new estimates clearly show the scale of the problem.
"Too often people only find out they have the disease after serious complications, such as heart or kidney disease.
"Avoiding such devastating complications depends on people getting diagnosed earlier."
He urged those over 40 to take up their invitations for a free NHS Health Check.
Type 2 diabetes develops when the body is unable to produce enough insulin, or the body's cells don't react to insulin.
Symptoms range from strong thirst and daytime fatigue to itchy genitals and blurred vision.