People in the West Midlands are facing a "diabetes timebomb", a health charity claimed today.
Diabetes UK said more than three million people in the UK have the condition with 225,00 cases diagnosed in the region.
However it also warned a further 50,000 Midlanders have Type 2 diabetes but are unaware of it. The figures were released to mark World Diabetes Day and to raise awareness of the seriousness of the condition if left undiagnosed.
Those with diabetes have a considerably greater chance of developing complications such as blindness, kidney damage, amputation, heart disease and stroke.
People with Type 1 diabetes face a reduced life expectancy of up to 20 years and up to ten years if they have Type 2 diabetes.
In the past year 100,000 people were diagnosed with diabetes across the country, pushing the UK figure from 2.2 million to 2.3 million. Most of these were Type 2 cases which can be linked to the increasing obesity epidemic across the nation.
Douglas Smallwood, the charity's chief executive, said: "Diabetes UK is calling for immediate action on Type 2 diabetes and obesity to prevent future generations in the West Midlands facing a lifetime of ill health and an early grave. It is the biggest health challenge of our time.
"We need to take collective and individual responsibility for this devastating issue which means government must work with all sections of society across the country to enable them to live healthier lives.
"After all, studies have shown that changes to diet and levels of exercise can reduce new cases of Type 2 diabetes by 58 per cent proving that we really can make a difference and begin to defuse the diabetes timebomb."
