Over 45, 000 people in Scotland are believed to be living with undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes.
The condition, which is linked to obesity, is prevalent in areas of high deprivation. The number of Type 1 and 2 cases is at an all time high of over 276,000, including 20,000 in Fife.
A major charity is calling for diabetics to be better educated on how to handle the disease, to reduce the risk of complications. Diabetes Scotland says the condition requires careful management to avoid developing serious health complications including lower limb amputation, blindness, and stroke. Up to 80% of these complications can be avoided through better management of the condition.
NHS Scotland spends £1 billion each year treating diabetes, the majority of this on avoidable complications.
Jane-Claire Judson, National Director of Diabetes Scotland, said: "Since 2008 there has been a 25% increase in the number of people living with diabetes in Scotland. While this trend itself is of great concern, a major issue facing people living with diabetes is the lack of provision and access to good diabetes education. Managing diabetes without this education is like asking someone to drive a high performance car without any instruction.
"We acknowledge there have been improvements in patient education in recent years and the issue was highlighted in the Scottish Government’s recent Diabetes Improvement Plan 2014. However, more needs to be done to ensure that every person diagnosed with diabetes is given the opportunity for structured education to help them learn how to manage the condition well."
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