The proportion of diabetics in the Netherlands increased from nearly 3 percent in 2001/2002 to 4 percent in 2007/2008. Diabetes is relatively frequent in the older population and people with a non-western background. Obesity – a risk factor for diabetes – is more common in the non-western than in the native Dutch population.
Diabetes on the increase
In 2007/2008, 4 percent of Dutch people indicated to suffer from diabetes, an increase by over 1 percentage points relative to the period 2001/2002. The increase is related to the ageing process in the Dutch population and the increase in obesity rates. Diabetes is more common in the older and obese population.
GPs also play a more active role in early diagnosing of diabetes and due to information campaigns more people recognise the symptoms and know they have diabetes. More than one in five take insulin soon after they were diagnosed with diabetes.