§ Viscount Hanworthasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes in the British population; and whether it is increasing markedly. [HL3597]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Hayman)The burden of disease from diabetes is normally expressed in terms of its prevalence. The most recent estimates of prevalence indicate that in 1997 there were 199,000 people with insulin-dependent diabetes in the United Kingdom. Research suggests that this number will fall somewhat over the next decade, whereas, in line with a worldwide trend, the number of people with non-insulin-dependent diabetes is forecast to rise significantly.