A report has revealed that since last year, the number of people living with type 2 diabetes in Richmond has increased by 3.75 per cent.

Richmond actually has the lowest diagnosis rates of diabetes of any borough in the UK however, this figure increased from 6,363 to 6,537.

Roz Rosenblatt, Head of London at Diabetes UK, said: “Type 2 diabetes is an urgent public health crisis, and solving it depends on decisive action that’s led by government, supported by industry and delivered across our society.

“More than half of all cases of type 2 diabetes − and the accompanying risk of developing devastating complications, could be prevented or delayed by supporting people to make healthier choices.

"This includes mandating industry to make food and drinks healthier and addressing the marketing and promotion of unhealthy foods.

“The Government promised to tackle obesity, and it’s time for them deliver on this promise, and lead the way in affecting real change.

"Preventing type 2 diabetes, and the development of devastating complications for those living with the condition has to be a public health priority.”

People with type 2 diabetes are 50 per cent more likely to die prematurely than those without diabetes.

A common complication of diabetes that can lead to early death is heart disease.

People with type 2 diabetes are two to two-and-a-half times more likely to experience heart failure and twice more likely to have a heart attack compared to people without diabetes.

Overall the data provided by the charity shows a stark increase in the number of people living with a diabetes diagnosis in the UK of more than 100,000 from last year.

At this rate the number of people with diabetes, including the undiagnosed population, is expected to rise to 5.3 million by 2025.