Why is type 2 diabetes among under 40s far less common and increasing less steeply in Scotland?

https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/may/22/type-2-diabetes-uk-rise-obesity-health-inequalities-junk-food

Thanks to Dottie for alerting me to this;

In the Guardian today, the above graph and:

The number of people under 40 being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the UK has risen 39% in six years, fuelled by soaring obesity levels and cheap junk food.

Look at the dark bar for Scotland and imagine it 10 times thicker, for comparison with a country ten times more populous, and it’s barely half as thick. Does that suggest type 2 diabetes is only half as common in Scotland than it is in England?

There are no separate data on the under 40s published for the 4 nations but I can see clearly that type 2 diabetes among the under 40s is less common (only half as?) in Scotland than in England and while the numbers in England have increased dramatically, they have done less so in Scotland.

Also, why does Wales with around 60% of the population have apparently the same level as Scotland?

I’ll take a stab at that question in the headline.

Per head of population, more GPs, more nurses, more physios, more home visitors, more teachers, less child poverty, shorter waiting times?

6 thoughts on “Why is type 2 diabetes among under 40s far less common and increasing less steeply in Scotland?”

  1. According to SCI-Diabetes (Scottish Care Information Diabetes Collaboration)

    • Scotland
    • Population: 5,466,000
    • Number of people with diabetes: 327,927
    • Crude Prevalence: 6.00%

    https://www.sci-diabetes.scot.nhs.uk/

    According to Public Health England

    It is estimated that 3.8 million people aged 16 and over in England have diabetes. This is equal to 8.6% of the population of this age group. By 2035, diabetes prevalence is expected to increase to 4.9 million or 9.7%.

    https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a82c07340f0b6230269c82d/Diabetesprevalencemodelbriefing.pdf

    I think we are doing better with the SNP

    JB

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  2. Another factor in the greater proportions in England and Wales is the greater proportion of black and other groups in the population. There might be genetic or other cultural factors, such as diet, involved, but these groups tend to suffer higher levels of poverty and to live in areas where access to medical and other social supports are fewer.

    Alasdair Macdonald.

    Liked by 3 people

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  3. Throw this one in the mix.

    Picture shows Rishi Sunak avoiding public on Scotland visit

    Does not want to chance meeting us extremists but meet puppy dog Dross

    Liked by 1 person

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