ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ

Type 2 diabetes is a condition that affects the amount of sugar in a person’s bloodstream and causes it to become too high. This type of diabetes can be caused by risk factors such as obesity and inactivity and, as shown in this figure, type 2 diabetes is more common among older individuals. In 2024/25, of those registered with type 2 diabetes in England, **** percent were aged between 40 and 64 years. 

Increasing prevalence of diabetes in England

In 2024/25, there were over *** million people in England who were registered as diabetics. The number of individuals registered with diabetes in England has increased year-on-year since 2008. The vast majority of those registered with diabetes in England are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, with over *** million, while approximately *** thousand living with type 1 diabetes.

Diabetes medication

By far the most used drug in England for the treatment of diabetes was metformin hydrochloride with over ** million items used in 2024 alone. Additionally, approximately **** percent of all prescribed drugs in primary care in England were for the treatment of diabetes. The share of prescribed diabetes drugs has steadily increased since 2005.