Non-communicable diseases (chronic diseases that cannot be transmitted from individual to individual, e.g. viral infection) represent 70-75% of deaths globally.
They can arise from various factors, including poor dietary and lifestyle choices, genetic, environmental stressors.
Common examples of NCDs are cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers and chronic respiratory diseases.
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin or has become insulin resistant. This results in blood sugar levels being too high.
20% of adults in the UK could be living with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus or pre-diabetes, in what has been described as the fastest growing health crisis of our time. In 2024, 4.6M people in the UK were diagnosed with T2DM, with rates continuously rising; recent figures (2023-2024) show that 549,000 more people in the UK are thought to be at risk of developing T2DM.
GPs are seeing a dramatic increase in younger population (due to increasing consumption of junk food and screen time, lack of exercise, working from home).
Amanda Pritchard, NHS Chief Executive, reported the crisis has added pressure on NHS services.
It is important to stress that T2DM can lead to life-changing complications (such as vision impairment, kidney disease), and even be life threatening, leading to heart attacks or strokes.
The condition is completely preventable and reversible by maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet and being active.
Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a general term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels.
Risk factors include high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, elevated LDL cholesterol, kidney disease, diabetes, genetics, excessive alcohol consumption, high salt consumption.
Nearly 7 million people are living with CVD in England; it contributes to over a quarter of deaths each year. A third of adults have high blood pressure.
There are many types of cardiovascular diseases, including strokes.
Around 100,000 strokes are recorded each year in the UK. An estimated 1.3M stroke survivors live with the risks, and with impact on speech and motility.
90% strokes are preventable with the right diet and lifestyle choices.
GP surgeries offer 5-yearly health checks for over 40s, pharmacies offer blood pressure checks.
Gut Facts
An estimated 100 trillion bacteria and 5000 species live in our guts, forming the fascinating ecosystem called the gut microbiome or microbiota. The gut microbiome has many paramount functions in human health, including regulation of the immune system, defence against harmful microorganisms and parasites (70-80% of our immune cells reside in our guts), breakdown of complex carbohydrates and dietary fibre, absorption of essential nutrients, support of mental health (There is a connection between our guts and our brain, and 95% of “happy hormone”/neurotransmitter serotonin is produced in our small intestine!).
Our gut produces other crucial neurotransmitters such as GABA and dopamine (over 50% of total body dopamine production happens in our gut), crucial for mood regulation and cognitive function (in a nutshell).
Microbiome imbalances and gut permeability have been linked to chronic inflammation (that may have a role in health issues including allergies, asthma), obesity, hormonal imbalances, oral diseases, mental disorders, and more. This is why it is important to look after it with appropriate nourishment, exercise and sleep routine.
Links
Type 2 Diabetes
- Diabetes.co.uk (2023) - Type 2 Diabetes
- Dr Joan St John, NHS (2024) “Millions of people have diabetes, but how much do you know about it?”
- NHS (2024) “NHS identifies over half a million more people at risk of type 2 diabetes in a year”
- NHS (2025) “What is type 2 diabetes?”
- Office of National Statistics (2024) “Risks factors for pre-diabetes and undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes in England, 2013-2019”
- World Health Organisation (2024) “Non-Communicable Diseases”
Cardiovascular Disease
- Gov.uk (2022) “Cardiovascular disease prevention: applying all our health”
- NHS (2022) “Cardiovascular Disease”
- NICE (2023) “What is the prevalence of stroke and TIA in the UK?”
Gut Health
- Chen, Y. et al. (2021) “Regulation of neurotransmitters by the gut microbiota and effects on cognition in neurological disorders”, Nutrients, 13(6):2099
- Guts UK (2025) “Introduction to gut bacteria”
- Vighi, G, et al (2008) “Allergies and the gastrointestinal system”, Clinic and experimental Immunology, Pubmed Central, National Library of Medicine
