Diabetes Week 2025 runs from 9th to 15th June is an important opportunity to spotlight the rising rates of Type 2 Diabetes and what can be done to address it.
The Growing Burden of Diabetes
Over 4 million people in the UK and Ireland are currently living with diabetes, and millions more are at risk. Behind these numbers is a growing public health challenge which is driven in large part by an often-overlooked factor: excess sugar and the rise of ultra-processed foods.
Sugar is frequently hidden in everyday products, marketed as “healthy” or “low fat,” and normalised through widespread packaging, promotion and marketing. Its impact on our collective health is profound, contributing to what many now refer to as a sugar pandemic. This is a key driver behind rising rates of Type 2 Diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic conditions.
The cost to the NHS is significant, running into billions of pounds each year. But beyond the economic strain lies the very real human cost: reduced quality of life, emotional stress, and long-term complications that affect individuals and families every day.
The Need for Health Literacy
Health literacy is the ability to access, understand, and apply information to make informed decisions about our health. It shapes the choices we make every day - what we eat, how we move, how we sleep and directly influences our long-term metabolic health.
Without understanding, people are left vulnerable to misinformation, marketing hype, and unhealthy defaults.
We must focus on empowering individuals with accessible, evidence-based education, and providing the tools they need to take control of their health with confidence.
Rethinking Nutrition: The Food Pyramid & Industry Influence
For decades, public health guidelines promoted low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets, guided largely by the original food pyramid. However, a growing body of evidence now challenges this approach, highlighting how it inadvertently encouraged high sugar consumption, while undervaluing the role of healthy fats and proteins in supporting metabolic health.
This paper outlines how early versions of the food pyramid were not grounded in robust scientific evidence and were significantly shaped by food industry lobbying. Despite progress, the legacy of these outdated recommendations still influences how many people eat today.
Key concerns include:
- Hidden sugars in everyday foods, from sauces to cereals.
- Aggressive marketing to children, particularly for ultra-processed products.
- Health claims that often lack clear clinical backing, leading to confusion and poor dietary choices.
Some positive steps are now being taken. From October 2025, the UK is expected to implement a long-delayed ban on advertising unhealthy foods before 9pm, with the goal of reducing children’s exposure to high-fat, salt, and sugar products. This is a welcome move, but more widespread efforts are still needed.
If we want to change the trajectory of Type 2 Diabetes, we must first change how we talk about food.
Below is an image of an updated food pyramid, one that better reflects today’s nutritional science and promotes long-term metabolic health.
Remission Is Possible
At RediCare, we deliver a clinically led, digitally delivered programme that addresses the root causes of metabolic dysfunction, supporting people across conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes, NDH, Fatty Liver, and PCOS.
Our recent clinical outcomes for Type 2 Diabetes patients demonstrate the impact of our intervention:
- HbA1c reduction: –16.4%
- Average weight loss: –4.7%
- 38% of patients reached the remission threshold (<48mmol/mol)
These results show that with the right support, better outcomes are not only possible but are within reach.
What We Offer
RediCare partners with PCNs, GP surgeries, and progressive employers to support individuals and communities in improving their health, whether they’re living with chronic conditions or simply looking to make sustainable lifestyle changes.
In Primary Care
RediCare supports PCNs with a fully remote model delivered within Enhanced Access hours. We offer structured onboarding, 1:1 coaching, personalised learning plans consisting of 300+ educational videos, live webinars, unlimited 1:1 human health coach consultations and 24/7 AI support, reducing pressure on teams while improving outcomes.
In the Workplace
We provide on-site health assessments with individual and group reports, plus access to weekly masterclasses. Ongoing digital support includes tailored education, unlimited 1:1 coaching, AI guidance, and practical tools such as food rating guides, meal plans and recipes.
Patient Testimonial
“I would absolutely recommend this programme to anyone with T2 diabetes. I have been astounded at how quickly my glucose levels came down and I do feel that I will be able to maintain this way of living. The weekly webinar has kept me on track and I try to join it live each week if I can but will always listen later if I haven’t been able to. It keeps me on track and reminds me why it is important to keep going with this way of life.” - Alison
The Path Forward
This Diabetes Awareness Week, we can move beyond awareness through better understanding, better food, and better support. Reversing the rise in Type 2 starts with better education, early prevention, and empowering people to take control of their health.
