MORE than ten per cent of Warrington residents are at risk of type two diabetes according to new figures released by Public Health England.

There are 18,420 people in Warrington at risk of the disease according to figures, which accounts for 10.8% of the town’s population.

The number of people in the town who have been diagnosed with type two diabetes currently stands at 9,391 – with obesity a key factor.

A separate study found that encouraging weight loss and healthy living could prevent 26 per cent of people with high blood sugar levels developing the disease.

High rates were also found in regions with large ethnic minorities or older populations which are other known risks factors.

A new NHS programme aiming to cut the numbers of people suffering from the disease will be launched next year.

Type two diabetes causes 22,000 deaths every year and costs the NHS around £8.8billion.

Stephen Ryan, Diabetes UK regional manager, said: "Having high blood glucose levels significantly increases your risk of developing type two diabetes – which is a serious health condition that can lead to devastating complications such as blindness, amputations and strokes and ultimately early death.

“This is why it is really important that people at high risk of developing type two diabetes are given information and support on how to reduce their risk.

“As well as helping to reduce the human cost of type two diabetes, this would also go a long way to helping to reduce costs to the NHS.

“The NHS spends 10 per cent of its entire budget managing diabetes and unless we get better at preventing type two diabetes this figure can only rise higher.”

Dr Dan Bunstone, GP and Warrington NHS Clinical Commissioning Group chair, said: "Small lifestyle changes such as eating more healthily, losing weight and becoming more physically active can all help lower the risk of developing type two diabetes.

"The prevelence rate of type two diabetes in Warrington, whilst slightly lower than some of our neighbouring towns, is still too high.

"Areas with higher prevelence rates of type two diabetes are traditionally those with an ageing population as they are at higher risk of developing the disease.

"Statistics show that there are still too many people on the borderline of developing type two diabetes - making these small lifestyle changes can help reduce the risk of developing the disease."