BRADFORD has the highest number of people in the UK suffering from diabetes, according to latest figures.

The city has 10.4 per cent of people with the condition, while the national average is 6.6 per cent. The lowest number of people with diabetes is in Richmond, west London, where just 3.6 per cent of people are living with a diagnosis.

The number of people diagnosed with diabetes in Yorkshire has reached an estimated 294,455, according to new analysis released by Diabetes UK.

The figures show that the number of people who have been diagnosed with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes has increased by an estimated 10,533 since last year – from 283,922 to 294,455.

Dr Waqas Tahir, GP and clinical lead for diabetes at Bradford Care Alliance, said: “Diabetes is one of the biggest health challenges people face in Bradford. 500 people are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes across the UK every day; that’s the equivalent of one person every three minutes.

“Type 2 diabetes is usually caused by lifestyle factors and is preventable in most people. Obesity and lack of physical activity are two of the most common causes of this form of diabetes. Obesity accounts for 80 to 85 per cent of the overall risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and underlies the current global spread of this condition.

“There are simple steps we can all take to reduce our chances of developing type 2 diabetes or reducing the seriousness of the condition, for example, by reducing our alcohol intake, stopping smoking, getting regular exercise and eating a healthy, balanced diet.

“To support people maintain a healthy weight and be more active Bradford City and Bradford District Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are offering people at significant risk of diabetes across Bradford a place on the new NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.

“If you would like to find out more about the programme or believe you may be at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, please visit your GP or talk to your practice nurse for more information.”

Clive Harrison, founder of the Bingley & Shipley Diabetes Support Group, said: “This figure does not surprise me. Considering the size of the metropolis and the makeup of the population. It does seem a large number.

“We are a fairly new group and have been going since July last year and meet in Bingley once a month.”

Meanwhile, the number of people living with diabetes has doubled in the last 20 years, a charity has said.

Diabetes UK said the condition is the “fastest growing health crisis of our time” as it found that the number of people diagnosed with the condition across the UK has reached almost 3.7 million - an increase of 1.9 million since 1998.

A further 12.3 million people are at an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, according to the charity’s analysis.

The number of people diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes has increased by almost 100,000 since last year - from 3,590,501 to 3,689,509.

Diabetes UK also estimates there are nearly one million people who have diabetes but are not aware of it.

Almost nine in ten people diagnosed with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes, which has been linked to lifestyle factors such as obesity.

Chris Askew, Diabetes UK chief executive, said: “Diabetes is the fastest growing health crisis of our time; and the fact that diagnoses have doubled in just 20 years should give all of us serious pause for thought.

“Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are serious conditions that can lead to devastating complications such as amputation, blindness, kidney disease, stroke and heart disease if people don’t receive a timely diagnosis and begin receiving the right care.”