Covid has caused “diabetes time bomb”: Almost 2.5 million patients missed important checks during the pandemic, warns the charity
- Diabetes UK found that GPs performed 41 percent fewer exams than they did before the pandemic
- The backlog has put millions at greater risk for complications, including loss of vision
- About 4.9 million people in the UK have diabetes – and nine in ten have type 2
Britain faces a “diabetes time bomb” after nearly 2.5 million sufferers miss critical checks due to Covid-19, a charity warned yesterday.
Diabetes UK found that GPs performed 41 percent fewer health checks in the past year than they did before the pandemic.
The residue has put millions at higher risk for complications including vision loss, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and amputation.
Diabetes UK found GPs performed 41 percent fewer health checks in the past year than before the pandemic (stock image)
About 4.9 million people in the UK have diabetes. Nine in ten have type 2, which is associated with obesity, while type 1 is an unavoidable autoimmune disease that often develops in childhood.
The number of cases has tripled in the past 25 years due to rising obesity, and around 5,000 hospitalizations are linked to diabetes every day.
Most patients self-manage the condition at home, but they need to be evaluated to make sure there are no complications.
Diabetes UK found that controls for people with type 1 fell 37.5 percent, or 201,000, last year, while for people with type 2 they fell 40.8 percent, or 2.25 million.
In addition, 60,000 missed a type 2 diagnosis between March and December.
Chris Askew, CEO of Diabetes UK, said: “We are sitting on a diabetes time bomb. Missed appointments and missed or late diagnoses can destroy lives. ‘
The number of cases has tripled in the past 25 years due to rising obesity and around 5,000 hospital admissions are linked to diabetes every day (stock image)
A survey by the charity found that one in three people has not had contact with their diabetes team since the pandemic began. A third also stated that they had canceled consultations that had still not taken place.
Mr. Askew added, “To address this crisis head on, the government must make diabetes a priority and invest appropriately in combating it.
“If we do this right, it could change the landscape for healthcare now and for generations to come – and bring good lives to millions more.
“Health professionals are working incredibly hard to clean up the backlog of missed and canceled routine health checks, consultations, and referrals, and we are grateful to them. But they work with limited resources … Now is the time for the government to act. “
People with diabetes are among the groups hardest hit by the coronavirus, responsible for every third death in England during the first wave of the pandemic.
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