Number Of People With Diabetes Hits Four Million

Data from GPs analysed by the charity Diabetes UK shows there are now 4.05 million people living with the condition.

This includes 3.5 million adults who have been officially diagnosed, an increase of 119,965 on the previous year's figure and an increase of 65% over the last decade.

Around 549,000 people are also believed to have Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to unhealthy lifestyles, but have not been diagnosed.

If this trend continues, an estimated five million people will have the condition by 2025.

Chris Askew, chief executive of Diabetes UK, said: "With four million people in the UK now living with diabetes, the need to tackle this serious health condition has never been so stark or so urgent."

He said there was a need for a "concerted effort" spearheaded by the Government to address the fact that almost two in every three people in the UK are overweight or obese and therefore have an increased risk of getting Type 2 diabetes.

Mr Askew added: "Basic measures such as making healthy food cheaper and more accessible, introducing clearer food labelling and making it easier for people to build physical activity into their daily lives would have a profound influence."

According to the charity, more than 24,000 people with diabetes die prematurely every year because of failures in accessing the best care.

This includes receiving eight annual checks in areas such as foot care and eyesight.

The checks - which only 60% of diabetes sufferers currently receive - are designed to prevent complications which can lead to limb amputation, blindness, kidney failure and even death.

Diabetes UK also warned that people are missing out on education courses designed to help them manage their diabetes, with more than a third of English regions still not running them.

The charity also claimed hospital care for people with the condition is consistently poor and puts some lives at risk.

Some 80% of the £10bn spent on diabetes every year by the NHS goes on treating preventable complications.

Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at Public Health England, said: "Sadly, too many people suffer from Type 2 diabetes and its serious health consequences.

"We must help prevent those at high risk of developing it from doing so."