Devastating and largely preventable complications are causing “untold hardship” for people with diabetes and costing the UK healthcare system £6.2 billion a year, a leading charity has warned.   

The figure is revealed today (June 19) in new research, commissioned by Diabetes UK and carried out by the York Health Economics Consortium, University of York.

The research examined how costs will rise over time if action is not taken to reduce the number of people developing type 2 diabetes and improve outcomes for everyone living with the disease. The charity estimates that, by 2035, the cost to the NHS alone could be nearly £18bn.   

The findings highlight a huge opportunity to transform lives through a greater focus on early care and support, so fewer people develop complications, says Diabetes UK. It calls on all political parties to ensure that the next government “shifts the dial” from crisis to preventative care including more routine checks and better follow-up care.

A greater focus on support and education at diagnosis will help people with diabetes manage their condition more effectively, the charity adds, demanding “bold action” to reduce the number of people developing the disease including measures to tackle the promotion of unhealthy food and drink.