Around one million UK adults are unaware they have diabetes

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• FEB 22, 2024

A new analysis has revealed that approximately 30% of people living with type 2 diabetes in England, or around one million adults, are undiagnosed, while around one in nine of all adults in England are estimated to be living with prediabetes.

The analysis was conducted by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and calculated from an analysis of data between 2013-2019 from the Health Survey for England.

The analysis found:

• Younger adults, if they have type 2 diabetes, were more likely to be undiagnosed – 50% of those aged 16-44 with type 2 diabetes were undiagnosed, compared to 27% of those aged 75 and over. 
• People living with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes were more likely to report better general health than those with a diagnosis.
• Women were more likely to be undiagnosed if they had a lower body mass index (BMI), lower waist circumference, or were not prescribed antidepressants.
• Around one in nine adults were estimated to be living with prediabetes, approximately 5.1 million people in England. 
• People from Black and Asian ethnic groups had more than double the prevalence of prediabetes and undiagnosed type 2 diabetes compared to White, Mixed and Other ethnic groups. 
• Those most at risk of having prediabetes were those with known risk factors for type 2 diabetes. However, significant numbers were also seen in groups typically considered low risk – for example, 8% of people not living with obesity or overweight were estimated to have prediabetes. 

Commenting on the findings, Nikki Joule, Policy Manager at Diabetes UK, said:  

“The figures published by ONS reveal a shockingly high number of people living with type 2 diabetes without a diagnosis, while millions more are at high risk of developing it.  

“We’re particularly concerned about the prevalence of prediabetes and undiagnosed type 2 diabetes in people from Black and Asian backgrounds, and the worrying proportion of younger people who are undiagnosed, as we know type 2 diabetes is more aggressive in younger people. 

 “The findings are a reminder of just how important it is for type 2 diabetes to be detected and diagnosed as early as possible, so people can get treatment and support to reduce the risk of devastating complications and, importantly, be offered remission programmes where appropriate.” 

Anyone worried about type 2 diabetes can use Diabetes UK’s free online Know Your Risk tool. More detailed findings and information about the study can be accessed via the Office for National Statistics.