Diabetes JSNA

Introduction

Diabetes is a chronic condition where the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood becomes too high because the body cannot use the glucose properly. The condition can arise where the amount of glucose in blood is too high for too long. Insulin is the hormone produced in the pancreas which responsible for enabling all cells in the body to use glucose for energy. Sometimes insulin does not work properly: the body either does not produce enough insulin, or the body's cells do not react to insulin. This is known as insulin resistance and is a precursor to diabetes. When the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or any insulin at all, it requires medical intervention to manage the condition.

Types of Diabetes

There are several types of diabetes – the 3 main types are:

Type 1 Diabetes: Usually diagnosed in younger people, often under 30. It’s treated with insulin because the body stops making sufficient insulin.
Type 2 Diabetes: The most common type. It can develop at any age but is more likely in adults over 40. It’s often linked to being overweight and can be managed with a healthy diet, tablets, or insulin.
Gestational Diabetes: Occurs during pregnancy and usually goes away after birth. However, it increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.

The consequence of diabetes lies in its widespread impact on health and wellbeing. If not properly managed, diabetes can lead to severe complications including heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, vision loss, and limb amputations. It also significantly affects mental health and quality of life. Early diagnosis and effective management are crucial to reducing these risks and improving outcomes for individuals living with the condition.

Table 1: comparison chart showing the key differences of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes:

Type of Diabetes	Type 1 Diabetes	Type 2 Diabetes
Cause	Autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing cells	Insulin resistance and/or reduced insulin production
Onset	Usually, childhood or adolescence	Usually adulthood, but increasingly in youth
Speed of Onset	Sudden	Gradual
Insulin Production	Little to none	Initially normal or high, then decreases
Treatment	Insulin therapy required	Lifestyle changes, oral meds, sometimes insulin
Prevention	Not preventable	Can be prevented with adoption of a healthy lifestyle
Body Weight	Often normal or underweight	Often overweight or obese
Family History	Less common	More common

Diabetes in the UK

Diabetes is a common condition affecting millions of people. Nationally, the NHS spends approximately £10.7 billion annually on diabetes care1 with much of this cost attributed to treating preventable complications. It is estimated £4.4bn goes on routine diabetes care, which includes diagnosis, GP and nurse appointments, eye screening, blood tests, medications, diabetes technology, education and support programmes, and specialist diabetes teams. In one research study, it is estimated that by 2035, the cost of diabetes to the NHS could be nearly £18bn1. The societal costs of diabetes are substantial.

The local picture in Hartlepool

In the context of Hartlepool, diabetes presents a significant public health challenge. The town experiences higher-than-average levels of deprivation, which is closely linked to increased rates of obesity, poor nutrition, and limited access to healthcare—all key risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes. These social determinants contribute to a higher prevalence of diabetes in the area and increase the likelihood of complications due to delayed diagnosis and inadequate management.

In Hartlepool, the burden of disease is likely to be disproportionately high due to the town’s socioeconomic profile. This includes increased hospital admissions, greater demand on primary care services, and long-term impacts on workforce productivity and social care systems.

There are policy and epidemiological reasons to focus on Type 2 Diabetes prevalence only. The risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes are well understood. Additionally, as Type 2 Diabetes is preventable with many risk factors being modifiable, understanding the risk for Type 2 Diabetes in the local population specifically can support prevention activity. Early detection and diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes can help delay or prevent disease progression. Understanding the numbers of people with Type 2 Diabetes supports local areas to understand the potential scale of the population who are at greater risk of complications including heart attacks, strokes and other microvascular and macrovascular events.

Diabetes JSNA

Introduction

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