London: Britain's National Health Service (NHS) spends approximately $14.5 billion annually on identifying and treating diabetes, with over 900,000 adults at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes participating in a nationwide health initiative, recent figures revealed.
According to Anadolu Agency, a record 166,360 more adults in England began receiving support last year from the NHS public health initiative, which aids individuals in losing weight and making lifestyle changes to prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes.
In a statement, the NHS reported that since the launch of the Healthier You Program in 2016, over 900,000 adults at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes have engaged with the program to improve their health. The NHS highlighted the severe impact that developing Type 2 diabetes could have on individuals and their families, as it is a leading cause of preventable sight loss among working-age people and significantly contributes to kidney failure, limb amputation, heart attack, nerve damage, stroke, and many common cancers.
Citing research by Manchester University, the statement emphasized that completing the Healthier You Program reduces the likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes by 37%, with participants typically achieving an average weight loss of 3.3kg. "Alongside the human cost, the NHS in England typically spends around £10.7 billion (some $14.5 billion) a year on identifying and treating diabetes," it stated.
In conjunction with these efforts, health leaders are urging the public to become more aware of their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes during Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Week 2025, scheduled for May 26-June 1. The NHS reiterated that Type 2 diabetes is largely preventable through lifestyle changes, noting that approximately nine out of 10 diabetes cases are Type 2, with around 2 million people in England at high risk.
Ashley Dalton, the minister for public health and prevention, remarked in the statement, "We know that prevention is better than treatment, and that tackling the root causes of Type 2 diabetes, such as obesity and inactivity, is one of the keys to addressing cardiovascular-related illness."