Shock rise in cases of type 2 diabetes in Scotland over last decade

A recently published report by Diabetes Scotland revealed that there was a 40% rise in new cases of people with the condition over the last 10 years in Scotland.

The report showed that new cases of type 2 diabetes being diagnosed rose from 190,772 to 267,615 between 2008 and 2018.

In addition, there is an estimated 26,347 people living with the condition who have yet to be diagnosed.

People with type 2 diabetes are 50% more likely to die prematurely than those without the condition.

Campaign group Diabetes Scotland said that the findings of their report on type 2 diabetes represented "an urgent public health crisis".

Angela Mitchell, National Director of Diabetes Scotland, said: "Solving the crisis depends on decisive action led by both the UK and Scottish governments, supported by industry and delivered across our society.

"We must create healthy environments which support people to make healthy choices.

"This includes mandating industry to make food and drinks healthier and addressing the marketing and promotion of unhealthy foods."

She added: "We welcome the action from the Scottish government in developing the Type 2 Diabetes Framework but we must ensure that there is long-term support people in Scotland to live healthier lives."

In 2018 the Scottish Government published a new set of guidelines in a bid to reduce the number of people being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

The report detailed a framework for prevention, early detection and early intervention of type 2 diabetes.

Joe Fitzpatrick MSP, Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing, said: “Diabetes is a growing problem. The incidence and prevalence of all types of diabetes has been steadily growing in the past 10 years in part due to better care and better detection of type 2 diabetes.”

The Scottish Government pledged £42 million funding to support the delivery of the guidelines and to provide increased weight management interventions for people at risk of or diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

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