Major Threat from Diabetes

Ninety five per cent of UK healthcare specialists say that levels of pre-diabetes* and Type II diabetes will worsen over the next ten years, according to new research from TNS. One in six (16%) believe they will reach 'epidemic' proportions over the coming decade.

The study, conducted across five key European markets, shows European specialists predicting a 50% chance of a pre-diabetic patient developing diabetes in the next three-to-five years, rising to a 73% risk over the next 10-15 years. 94% of British specialists believe the treatment of pre-diabetes is necessary and 86% support pre-diabetes screening.

According to Philip O'Hagan, Client Services Director at TNS' Healthcare division, the threat of diabetes to Western countries and those with similar lifestyles 'cannot be underestimated. It is now widely accepted that pre-diabetes greatly increases the likelihood of developing Type II diabetes and makes patients more susceptible to developing cardiovascular disease. The rise in obesity, coupled with more sedentary lifestyles across Western regions has made pre-diabetes an increasingly common condition and one which will escalate and lead to a proliferation of Type II diabetes if more is not done now to prevent its onset'.

Specialists recommend dietary and exercise programmes as the best method of treatment - 28% believe this should be combined with pharmacological treatment. Among the latter, oral anti-diabetics are the preferred method. However, specialists generally believe that few people (around one in five patients) would succeed in adapting to these lifestyle changes, which would make the development of alternative treatment programmes very important.

Across Europe, concern about the problem is almost universal among specialists. 95% believe that pre-diabetes is a genuine public health problem that requires urgent attention across Europe; 85% say GPs know too little about pre-diabetes; 94% support the idea of systematic screening for at risk pre-diabetics and 90% feel a public information campaign would be useful to increase awareness of the condition.

Research took place between 24th September and 13th October among representative samples of 100 diabetologists and cardiologists (500 in total) in five key European markets - Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

* 'Pre-diabetes' describes a condition in which a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough for them to be diagnosed with Type II diabetes.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.

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