Prevalence Of Diabetes In the United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom more than three percent of the
population have diabetes, and about the same number again
can be found on screening in population studies. Among
schoolchildren about two in 1000 have diabetes.
 

Diabetes can occur at any age.

Type 2 diabetes is most common after middle age and occurs most often at 50-70 years
of age, affecting both sexes equally. The peak incidence of
Type 1 diabetes is at 10-12 years with a small male predominance. 

Nevertheless, elderly people can also have Type 1
diabetes, and some children have Type 2 diabetes.
 

Worldwide, the incidence of Type 2 diabetes is increasing
rapidly: in 1995, it was estimated that there were 135 million
people with diabetes, this may rise to about 300 million by
2025, increasing particularly in developing countries.
Ethnic variations
 

The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes is particularly high in Asian
and African-Caribbean people and presents a considerable
health burden in some inner urban areas. 

Thus in the United Kingdom 20% of Asians and 17% of African-Caribbeans over 40
years of age have Type 2 diabetes. Children not infrequently
have Type 2 diabetes.

Asian people have a particularly high risk
of developing diabetic nephropathy and coronary artery
disease, and a very low risk of foot ulceration; those among the
black races are prone to severe hypertension that can be
difficult to treat, and also have a strong tendency to develop
gestational diabetes