HC Deb 22 June 1981 vol 7 cc19-20W
Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will give the actual, or his best, estimate of the number of people suffering from diabetes, by age-group and sex, in the United Kingdom; if he will give an estimate of the number of undiscovered diabetics; what steps his Department is taking to identify untreated diabetics; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he will give the actual numbers, or his best estimate, of the number of people suffering from diabetes in the United Kingdom; if he will give a breakdown of the various forms of treatment given; and if he will make a statement.

Sir George Young

There are no central statistics of the number of diabetics in the United Kingdom. The British Diabetic Association has estimated that there are some 600,000 diagnosed diabetics in Great Britain—of whom about 30,000 are under the age of 16—and a similar number who have not been diagnosed. No further breakdown of these numbers by age or sex is available.

Great Britain
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)
Quarter ended All Supplementary Benefit recipients (Thousands) Percentage change in (b) from previous quarter Unemployed Supp. Benefit recipients (Thousands) Column (d) as a percentage of column (b)
February 1980 2883 602 20.9
May 1980 2857 -0.9 596 20.8
August 1980 3207 +12.3 934 29.1
December 1980 3113 -2.9 858 27.6
February 1981 3264 +4.8 988 30.3

Source: Supplementary Benefit Quarterly Enquiry

Cambridge and Peterborough
(f) * (g) (h) (i) (e)
Quarter ended All Supplementary Benefit recipients (Thousands) Percentage change in (g) from previous quarter Unemployed Supp. Benefit recipients (Thousands) Column (i) as a percentage of column (g)
February 1980 21.6 4.7 22
May 1980 21.5 -0.3 4.5 21

The number of diabetics treated with insulin is estimated at 200,000; others are treated by oral diabetic agents or by restricted dieting alone. Many general practitioners regard it as good practice to check the urine of at risk patients—pregnant women, the elderly and those with a family history of diabetes—from time to time. Pregnant women are also checked routinely at ante-natal clinics.

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