We call on the UK Government to introduce a preventative NHS cardiac screening pathway for people living with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

People with diabetes are at significantly higher risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD), which is often a silent condition with subtle symptoms such as:

• fatigue
• breathlessness
• jaw pain
• shoulder pain
• chest discomfort that can resemble indigestion

Many patients are not referred to cardiology services until they present with severe symptoms or a cardiac event.

We ask the Government to fund a national screening pathway that includes risk assessment and access to preventative imaging where appropriate, such as coronary calcium scoring or CT coronary angiography.

Earlier detection could allow treatment options such as medication, stents, or surgery before a life-threatening event occurs. This could save lives and reduce emergency hospital admissions.

This issue is deeply personal to me. My mother, who had Type 2 diabetes and high LDL cholesterol levels despite statin medication and change of diet and lifestyle, passed away unexpectedly from what we now understand was likely undiagnosed coronary artery disease. She had no obvious warning signs and was never referred for further cardiac investigation.

Preventative screening for high-risk diabetic patients could help prevent similar tragedies for other families.

Please find below the constituency‑level data for Blackley and Middleton South and Bolton North East (data provided by Diabetes UK):

In Blackley and Middleton South 7,455 adults are living with a diabetes diagnosis (8.2% of the population), and only 63% of people received all of their essential annual checks in the latest data. 

In Bolton North East 9,849 adults are living with a diabetes diagnosis (8.8% of the population), and only 54% of people received all of their essential annual checks in the latest data.

Many more people in both of these constituencies are living with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. 

Cited from the ‘Preventative Care Savings Lives: Greater Manchester Integrated Care’, ‘Tackling Diabetes Together: Manchester City Council 2018’ and ‘NHS England, Greater Manchester Cardiovascular Prevention Plan’, please note key information below:

Nearly 5,500 people die annually in Greater Manchester from cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes coronary heart disease.

Based on regional and national data, a significant portion of these deaths are linked to diabetes: 

Regional Context: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of premature death across Greater Manchester, killing more than 1 in 4 people.
Diabetes Impact: Diabetes causes over 1,000 premature deaths in Greater Manchester each year.

National Correlation: Data from 2022 suggests that nearly 1 in 3 (29%) cardiovascular disease-related deaths in England occur in people living with diabetes.

Regional High Risk: Greater Manchester experiences the highest death rate from CVD in England, over twice the national average. 
Given these statistics, a large portion of the 5,500 annual cardiovascular deaths in the region involves individuals with diabetes. People with diabetes in the area have a 55% higher chance of having a myocardial infarction (heart attack) compared to the general population. 

Diabetes UK have also provided me with the following information below:

People with diabetes account for almost 30% of all cardiovascular disease related deaths. In 2023, there were 39,915 cardiovascular disease related deaths in people with diabetes.

CVD deaths in people with and without diabetes, by year, England

Source: NHS England (2024) National Diabetes Audit, Complications and Mortality 2009-2023

We urge the Government to review current diabetic care pathways within the NHS and introduce routine preventative heart screening for high-risk diabetic patients.

References:

NHS England Greater Manchester Cardiovascular Prevention Plan.

Tackling Diabetes Together: Manchester City Council 2018.

Preventative Care Savings Lives: Greater Manchester Integrated Care.