'Diabetes epidemic' warning as cases soar

The figures also revealed that up to four million people in England were registered as obese with GP practices. The statistics were taken from the 2006-2007 Quality And Outcomes Framework (QOF) for England by The Information Centre for Health and Social Care.

Diabetes UK said growing levels of obesity are closely linked to the rise in Type 2 diabetes. Around 80% of people diagnosed with Type 2 are overweight at the time of diagnosis.

"These figures are truly alarming as diabetes is a serious condition, which can lead to blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, stroke and nerve damage that can cause amputation," said Douglas Smallwood, chief executive of Diabetes UK.

"We need to do all we can to raise awareness of the condition and to encourage people to follow a healthy diet and active lifestyle to help them reduce their risk of developing diabetes."

Diabetes UK's 'Measure Up' campaign is aiming to raise awareness of diabetes and its risk factors and encourage those at risk to get tested. It estimates that around 750,000 people in in the UK have diabetes and are not aware of it."