More than four million people have diabetes in the UK - but hundreds of thousands more are likely to have the condition without yet knowing it.
That's according to figures from Diabetes UK. The majority of people - around nine in 10 - have type 2 diabetes, which is the version of the disease which is often, thought not always, associated with health issues like obesity. High blood sugar is often a sign of "prediabetes", too. And keeping track of those factors is a key way in which people can increase their chances of preventing the onset of type 2 diabetes itself
The condition can, in turn, lead to serious health problems, such as heart disease or stroke, according to NHS guidance. High blood sugar - hyperglycaemia - can also over a sustained period of time lead to permanent damage to parts of the body such as the eyes, nerves, kidneys and blood vessels.
