Title: Diabetes 'to cost sixth of NHS budget' | The Independent | The Independent
Headings: Diabetes 'to cost sixth of NHS budget'
Diabetes 'to cost sixth of NHS budget'
Content: There are around 3.8 million people living with diabetes in the UK and this is expected to increase to 6.25 million in just over two decades. Barbara Young, chief executive of Diabetes UK, said: " This report shows that without urgent action, the already huge sums of money being spent on treating diabetes will rise to unsustainable levels that threaten to bankrupt the NHS. "But the most shocking part of this report is the finding that almost four-fifths of NHS diabetes spending goes on treating complications that in many cases could have been prevented. "The failure to do more to prevent these complications is both a tragedy for the people involved and a damning indictment of the failure to implement the clear and recommended solutions. Unless the Government and the NHS start to show real leadership on this issue, this unfolding public health disaster will only get worse." A Department of Health spokeswoman said: " We agree that diabetes is a very serious illness and one that has a big impact on the NHS. "That's why we are tackling the disease on three fronts. "First, through prevention of Type 2 diabetes - encouraging people to eat well and be more active.