Thousands with type 2 diabetes at risk bacause they do not take their drugs

May 27 2008

According to Diabetes UK, in excess of 650,000 people with obesity-related diabetes do not take their drugs and the charity says they are putting themselves at risk of developing serious health problems such as stroke and blindness.

Diabetes UK says as many as 2 million people suffer from type 2 diabetes and the disease is increasingly common as more and more people gain excessive weight.

Type 2 diabetes if it is not kept under control can lead to a range of complications including heart disease, kidney problems and amputations and it is thought 650,000 diabetics in Britain are not taking the medication prescribed for their condition.

The charity says many people with diabetes do not realise the importance of taking their medicines despite the fact that damage caused is irreparable.

The charity says effectively controlling type 2 diabetes can reduce the risk of heart disease by 56%, and eye disease and kidney disease by 33%.

These worrying statistics were revealed by research conducted by the charity along with the British Pharmaceutical Industry.

The research found that one in five people with diabetes did not think it important to take their prescription and that 40% of sufferers did not realise they could be in danger of having a stroke if their diabetes was not properly managed.

Another 32% did not know heart disease was a common complication and 30% did not understand that failing to take the tablets could put them at risk of kidney failure.

Sufferers with type 2 diabetes often need to take glucose-lowering tablets, blood pressure tablets, and lipid-lowering agents as complications associated with the disease can take years to appear.

The charity is currently working with healthcare professionals to encourage people with diabetes to be more involved in their healthcare.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin and most sufferers do not need injections of insulin and can manage their condition by changing their lifestyle.

It is thought as many as 750,000 people with type 2 diabetes are undiagnosed.