One in five adults is now living with either diabetes or prediabetes.
The latest data reveals a concerning rise in cases, highlighting the urgent need for better prevention, earlier diagnosis and improved care.
There are now 4.6 million people in the UK diagnosed with diabetes, an increase from 4.4 million last year, reaching an all-time high.
In addition, an estimated 6.3 million people are living with prediabetes – also known as non-diabetic hyperglycaemia – a condition that, if left untreated, can progress to type 2 diabetes.
Alarmingly, a further 1.3 million people are living with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes meaning that more than 12 million adults in the UK now have either diabetes or prediabetes.
Prediabetes, often undetected, is a key warning sign. It occurs when blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough for a type 2 diabetes diagnosis.
Early detection can help reduce the risk of complications and for some people, can even reverse or delay the progression to type 2 diabetes.
Growing problem
These figures underscore the growing scale of the problem and the need for urgent action.
As the Government prepares to finalise its 10-Year Health Plan, leading health experts are calling for decisive steps to tackle the crisis.
Without intervention, the number of people living with diabetes will continue to rise, bringing with it an increase in serious complications, including:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Kidney failure
- Sight loss
Each year, diabetes contributes to 48,000 strokes, 34,000 heart attacks and 155,000 cases of heart failure in the UK alone.
Colette Marshall, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK, describes this as a wake-up call. “These figures highlight the hidden health crisis we’re facing,” she says. “There must be better care for people living with diabetes to help them avoid devastating complications.”
One of those affected is former Team GB Olympian Michelle Griffith-Robinson, a Diabetes UK ambassador, who was diagnosed with prediabetes in 2018.
Coming from a family with a history of type 2 diabetes, she knew the risks all too well.
Her grandmother died from complications related to diabetes and her mother was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, which led to the amputation of her leg in early 2023.
Michelle initially managed to reverse her prediabetes diagnosis through lifestyle changes, but in November 2024, she was told that her blood sugar levels had crept back up again.
“It was a massive shock,” she admits.
“I considered myself fit and healthy, but I’ve now been diagnosed with prediabetes again. I know how important it is to raise awareness, particularly within the Black community, where stigma around type 2 diabetes prevents many people from seeking help.”
The rise in younger people developing type 2 diabetes is particularly concerning.
Over the past six years, there has been a 40% increase in cases among under-40s. Research shows that those diagnosed at a younger age are more likely to face severe complications and a higher risk of early death.
Without intervention, the economic and social burden will only grow. By 2035, diabetes could cost the NHS nearly £18 billion a year.
