Diabetes: Tens of thousands a year go undiagnosed
The introduction of targeted screening for adult-onset diabetes could unearth tens of thousands of previously undiagnosed cases every year, a new report has suggested.
Five hundred patients visiting the accident and emergency department at St Mary's Hospital in London were selected at random to take part in the study.
All were over 40 and asked to complete a questionnaire regarding risk factors for diabetes.
Of the 500, 76 were found to have been diagnosed with diabetes but 13 of those were found to be have Type 2 diabetes. Although Type 2 diabetes is easier to treat, since insulin is still being produced by the pancreas, it can go undiagnosed for several years.
Around half of those with the condition are exhibiting health complications when they are diagnosed.
In Type 1 diabetes, which normally emerges during childhood or adolescence, no insulin is produced at all.
It is potentially a more serious condition, but symptoms quickly become apparent and diagnosis and treatment are swift.
Based on the results, researchers concluded that up to 500 new cases of Type 2 diabetes could be diagnosed at the hospital each year. Spread across the country the number of people diagnosed annually would be in the tens of thousands.
Estimates suggest that there may be as many as 1,000,000 people in Britain unaware they are suffering from diabetes.
The study also revealed that 4.6% of those who took part had higher than normal blood glucose levels that put them at risk of developing the condition.
"Opportunistic screening for diabetes in hospital A&E departments, particularly of those in high-risk groups, could also make an important contribution," said Dr Jonathan Valabhji, consultant diabetologist at St Mary's.
"Some patients attending A&E may be there because they already have diabetic complications such as heart disease, nerve damage or retinopathy, which could lead to blindness," said Douglas Smallwood, Diabetes UK chief executive.
"The sooner people are diagnosed, the sooner people can start taking control of diabetes and reducing their risk of developing long-term complications.
"The NHS needs a programme for early identification, targeting those at increased risk of diabetes," he added.
