THOUSANDS of people across Sussex are believed to be at high risk of developing diabetes.

New figures reveal almost 161,000 of the county’s residents have problems with their blood sugar levels which could lead to the condition.

The findings in a report published by Public Health England this week have reignited calls for more to be done to tackle the causes of Type 2 diabetes, which causes 22,000 early deaths every year.

The report was commissioned by the new NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NHS DPP), which plans to support people in reducing their risk of developing diabetes by helping them lose weight, be more active and have a healthier diet.

Research has found programmes like NHS DPP can be successful in preventing 26% of people at high risk of Type 2 diabetes from going on to develop the condition.

The programme will be rolled out across the country from next year.

Michael Baker, a deputy director from Public Health England, said: “We know how to lower the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes - lose weight, exercise and eat healthily - but it’s hard to do it alone.

“Our evidence review shows that supporting people along the way will help them protect their health and that’s what our prevention programme will do.”

Diabetes UK chief executive Barbara Young said: “Having high blood glucose levels significantly increases your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

“This is a serious health condition which affects 2.9 million people in England, and can lead to devastating complications such as blindness, amputations and stroke, and ultimately early death.

“This is why it is really important that people at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes are given evidenced based support to reduce their risk.

“As well as helping to reduce the human cost of Type 2 diabetes, this would also go a long way to helping to reduce costs to the NHS.

“The NHS spends ten per cent of its entire budget managing diabetes and unless we get better at preventing Type 2 diabetes this figure will rise to unsustainable levels.”