A striking new report reveals that nearly one in three deaths from cardiovascular disease in England occurs among people with diabetes, exposing an alarming and growing health crisis.
The analysis, published by the charity Diabetes UK, found that 29% of all heart disease deaths in England in 2022 involved individuals living with diabetes. This equates to 42,931 out of 144,590 total cardiovascular deaths, based on data from the National Diabetes Audit. The proportion has nearly doubled over the past 15 years — rising from 15% in 2009 when there were 147,820 deaths from cardiovascular causes.
Beyond the human toll, the financial burden is escalating. The UK currently spends £10.7 billion annually on diabetes care, a figure projected to soar to £18 billion by 2035 if urgent action is not taken. Meanwhile, care delivery remains inconsistent: only 61.3% of people with diabetes received all recommended health checks in 2023-24, leaving more than a third of patients without critical routine monitoring.
An estimated 5.8 million people are living with diabetes across the UK, with type 2 diabetes accounting for approximately 90% of cases.
Diabetes UK has urged the government to prioritise diabetes in its forthcoming 10-year health strategy, calling for a firm commitment to reducing deaths and disabilities from cardiovascular disease by 25%. The charity emphasised the need for clear, measurable targets to ensure progress.
“Diabetes should not be a fast track to severe illness, yet this is the harsh reality facing millions,” said Colette Marshall, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK. “Every week in England, diabetes contributes to 812 strokes, 568 heart attacks, and 2,909 new cases of heart failure. This is preventable.
“The government has voiced its intention to pivot healthcare towards prevention. If they are serious about this shift, diabetes must be front and centre in their strategy. We already possess the tools and knowledge to reduce these tragedies. What’s needed now is the political determination to act decisively.”
Professor Kamlesh Khunti, an expert in primary care diabetes and vascular medicine at the University of Leicester, echoed these concerns, stressing the urgency of comprehensive cardiovascular management for diabetes patients.
“We know that straightforward interventions — controlling blood pressure, managing cholesterol, and regulating blood sugar — can dramatically cut complications and extend lives,” Khunti said. “Yet this report shows that one in three people are still missing out on basic care processes. That is unacceptable given the evidence we have.
“Moreover, we now have targeted therapies that can prevent heart and kidney disease in people with type 2 diabetes. Failing to deliver these interventions is a missed opportunity to save lives.”
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