1. The NHS Atlas of Variation
in Healthcare for People
with Diabetes
May 2012
Copyright 2011 Right Care

2. In the Europe Region (54 countries and territories), the United Kingdom is
one of the countries with the highest number of people with
diabetes, together with Germany, Italy, France and Spain.
In 2010/11 in England, there were 2,455,937 people aged 17 years and
older diagnosed with diabetes. There could be a further 710,000 adults
who have not yet been diagnosed with the condition. The total number of
adults with diabetes (diagnosed and undiagnosed) is estimated to
increase to 3,822,900 by 2020, thereby affecting 8.5% of the population.
(See Figure I.1.)
International Diabetes Federation (2009) Diabetes Atlas. 5th edition.
http://www.idf.org/diabetesatlas/5e/europe
Quality and Outcomes Framework 2010/11. http://www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-
and-data-collections/audits-and-performance/the-quality-and-outcomes-
framework
APHO Diabetes Prevalence Model
http://www.yhpho.org.uk/resource/view.aspx?RID=81090 and Quality and
Outcomes Framework 2010/11 http://www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-
collections/audits-and-performance/the-quality-and-outcomes-framework
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3. Diabetes is costly to treat. In 2010/11, prescribing for anti-diabetic
items, including blood-testing items, cost £725.1 million and accounted
for 8.4% of the total spend on prescriptions in primary care, representing
an increase of 41.2% since 2005/06. The cost of prescribing for the
treatment of diabetes is increasing faster than that for any other category
of drugs.
Prescribing for Diabetes in England 2005/06 to 2010/11.
http://www.ic.nhs.uk/webfiles/publications/prescribing%20diabetes%2020
0506%20to%20201011/Prescribing_for_Diabetes_in_England_20056_to
_201011.pdf
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4. More than 60% of people of all ages with Type 1 diabetes and almost half of
people of all ages with Type 2 diabetes did not receive all nine care
processes essential for management and detection of early complications
More than 70 % of people of all ages with Type 1 diabetes and over 30% of
people of all ages with Type 2 diabetes did not have a most recent
HbA1c measurement of 7.5% or less, making the long-term
complications of diabetes more likely
Two in 10 children aged 0-15 years have a most recent HbA1c of over 10%,
making the long-term complications of diabetes more likely
More than 30% of people of all ages with Type 1 diabetes and almost 40% of
people of all ages with Type 2 diabetes did not have a most recent blood
pressure Variation in Inpatient Activity (VIA): Diabetes tool.
http://www.yhpho.org.uk/resource/view.aspx?RID=105866
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