A new Government report reveals 1 million UK adults are likely to have undiagnosed diabetes and at least 5.1 million are prediabetic. Many of them will be young, of average weight and entirely without symptoms. That's why taking a simple blood test is essential, says a leading expert. 

Shocking new figures from the Government's Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal an estimated 1 million adults have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. Worse still, 50% of cases in people under 44 are likely to be undiagnosed. In 2019, there were almost 14,000 diabetes-related deaths in the UK. The earlier people are diagnosed, the better the outcome.

Dr Avinash Hari Narayanan (MBChB), Clinical Lead at London Medical Laboratory, says: 'Diabetes is an invisible killer that shortens lives by up to ten years. Untreated diabetes can lead to blindness, amputations and death. Swift treatment is vital. Although millions of Brits are already being treated for type 2 diabetes, these new figures reveal around 30% of people who have "full blown" type 2 diabetes aren't even aware of it. Ironically, the younger you are and the healthier you seem, the more likely it is your diabetes will remain undiagnosed.

'The figures are even worse for prediabetics – people on the threshold of developing "full blown" diabetes. Prediabetes affects around 1 in 9 Brits, says the ONS, which equates to approximately 5.1 million adults.

'It's astonishing to think that both diabetes and prediabetes can be identified by a simple finger-prick blood test, yet 30% of diabetics and potentially millions of prediabetics remain undiagnosed. Remember, prediabetes is an entirely reversable condition. Basic changes to lifestyle and diet can ensure people return to full health and prevent the development of type 2 diabetes in most cases.

'Older or overweight people are likely to be checked for the condition. However, there are many people who could have diabetes or, at least, prediabetes but who never get checked. These include those who are in better health, have a lower body mass index (BMI) or who are considered at "low risk" because they are aged under 44. The ONS' own figures show 8% of people who were not overweight or obese are known to have prediabetes. This is a missed opportunity for intervention in a group of people who would have comparatively greater positive outcomes.

 'Concerningly, prediabetics are unlikely to experience any symptoms, meaning the condition goes unnoticed even at the threshold of type 2 diabetes, when irreversible damage has already occurred. That's why we launched our "Give the finger to diabetes" campaign last year, to identify undiagnosed cases of type 2 diabetes and prediabetes with a simple finger-prick blood test.

'Increased testing is vital to establish which of us are among this at-risk population. The most accurate test to identify prediabetes is known as the HbA1c test, which can be done at your local medical practice but is also now available as a revolutionary and convenient home finger-prick test from London Medical Laboratory.

'The sooner this problem is detected the better we can manage it. Those who discover they have prediabetes should take it as a warning sign that they are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The good news is that prediabetes is not "full" diabetes yet and, with the right support, up to 50% of cases of type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed.

'London Medical Laboratory's finger-prick HbA1c "Diabetes - Diagnosis and Monitoring" test is considered the gold standard in regular testing. It is used to measure the average level of blood glucose over the previous two to three months and both accurately monitor and diagnose diabetes. It can be taken at home through the post, or at one of the many drop-in clinics that offer these tests across London and nationwide in over 120 selected pharmacies and health stores. For full details, see: https://www.londonmedicallaboratory.com/product/diabetes-check

African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson, Moussa Faki, has advised foreign powers to stop meddling into African affairs more so those around the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

In a statement on Wednesday, 21 February, Faki said the political differences in Africa can be resolved by dialogue and not military solutions or interferences by foreigners.

“AU Commission chair Moussa Faki calls upon all foreign powers to completely abstain from all interference in the internal affairs of all African countries, notably those of the Great Lakes Region,” the statement read. 

Further, the leader urged heads of DRC and Rwanda, in particular, to prioritise dialogue within the framework of the two African mechanisms led by President Joao Lourenco of Angola and former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“The chairperson of the AUC reiterates his call for rapid de-escalation. He calls upon regional leaders, particularly those of DRC and Rwanda, to prioritise dialogue in the framework of the two African mechanisms… to agree on the modalities of a peaceful and lasting solution to the crisis,” the statement read. 

The statement comes amid a surge of violence in Eastern DRC, where the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) are battling the M23 rebel group.

Numerous ceasefires brokered by regional leaders and the United States in 2022 and 2023 have been initiated but were frustrated by the ineffectiveness of troops, deployed to enforce the withdrawal of the rebels.

The conflict has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and claimed dozens of lives, raising fears of a humanitarian crisis. By Esther Nyambura, The Standard

Amnesty International is urging the rapid operationalization and capitalization of the international Loss and Damage Fund meant to remedy the harms faced by communities most severely affected by climate change, after higher-income states which are primarily responsible for causing the climate crisis missed a deadline to nominate their representatives to its board.

Following the hottest year ever recorded globally the need for action is acute, but this failure to act swiftly on an agreement at the COP climate summit in November to press ahead and deliver a working Loss and Damage Fund, initially hosted by the World Bank, threatens to undermine the human rights of communities which desperately need resources to deal with the impacts of climate change.

"The full operationalization of an adequately financed Loss and Damage Fund is potentially a matter of life or death for millions of people around the world facing the most severe consequences of global warming, such as droughts, floods, rising sea levels, ocean acidification, desertification and loss of livelihoods. Delays to the disbursement of funds at the scale needed threaten the rights of people most affected by the increasing weather extremes and environmental degradation caused by our heating climate," said Ann Harrison, Climate Justice Advisor at Amnesty International.

"'Developed' countries pushed back last year against the concerns of human rights advocates about the World Bank's involvement by arguing that the bank's hosting of the fund would help ensure its more rapid operationalization. These states got want they wanted, and yet are jeopardizing progress. Communities on the frontline of the climate crisis should not have to wait as lives and ecosystems are lost while nations which have been the largest historic emitters of greenhouse gases squabble over board seats." 

"The fact that only two women have so far been nominated to a 26-member board, despite a mandate for gender balance, is also alarming and should be remedied. Women are among those most susceptible to and worst affected by the climate crisis and should have far more equal representation in the governance of the fund." 

The fund's board was due to hold its first meeting in January, but the continuing delay now threatens the entire 2024 timeline set out for the fund, including a June deadline for the World Bank to confirm its willingness to host it under conditions set at the last COP.

Background

The Loss and Damage Fund's board is mandated to have 26 members, comprising 12 from 'developed' states, which bear the greatest historical responsibility for climate change caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, three each from Asia-Pacific, Africa, Latin American and the Caribbean, two each from small 'developing' island states and 'least developed' countries, and one from another 'developing' nation not in these categories. An agreement to establish the Loss and Damage Fund was reached at COP27 in 2022. Certain parties pledged limited financing to the fund at COP28 in Dubai last year.