Diabetes mortality rate 'truly alarming'
- Published: 12 August 2008 14:48
- Author: Steve Ford
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- Last Updated: 12 August 2008 14:48
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More than 10% of deaths in England among those aged 20 to 79 can be attributed to type 2 diabetes, a charity has warned.
Diabetes UK cites latest figures collated by the Yorkshire and Humber Public Health Observatory, which showed 26,300 diabetes-attributable deaths in this age group in 2005.
The charity said that this could have risen to 12.2% of deaths by 2010 if current trends continue.
According to the data, Buckinghamshire PCT had the lowest percentage of diabetes-attributable deaths at 9% compared with Newham PCT, in east London, which had the highest at 17%.
Trusts with the highest number of deaths from diabetes tended to be those with populations with a higher than average proportion over 40 or from an Asian or Black ethnic background.
Douglas Smallwood, chief executive of Diabetes UK, said: 'These new figures are truly alarming and confirm that diabetes is one of the biggest health challenges facing the UK today.'
