ONE in five people now have diabetes or pre-diabetes in a “hidden health crisis” linked to obesity and junk food, experts warn.

The charity  said cases are at an all-time high.

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Type 2 diabetes is the most common type and is a leading cause of strokes and heart diseases in the UK, with patients also at risk of blindness and leg amputations.

Analysis of NHS figures found that 4.6million adults in Britain are officially diagnosed with diabetes – compared to 3.8m in 2018.

Another 1.3m are estimated to be unaware they have the condition.

And 6.3m are believed to have non-diabetic hyperglycaemia, also known as pre-diabetes.

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This is a condition where blood sugar levels are high and someone is very likely to develop type 2 diabetes in future.

In total, the figures suggest 12.1m people are affected.

Colette Marshall, chief executive of Diabetes UK, said: “These latest figures highlight the hidden health crisis we’re facing in the UK.

“The Government must act now. 

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“There must be better care for the millions of people living with all types of diabetes, to support them to live well and fend off the risk of devastating complications.

“It’s also critical that more is done to find the missing millions who either have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes but are completely unaware of it.”

About half of cases of type 2 diabetes are caused by being overweight or obese.

Obesity rates have roughly doubled for women and tripled for men since the 1990s.

Lazy lifestyles, unhealthy diets and a family history of the condition all also raise the risk of type 2 diabetes.

It prevents the pancreas from making enough insulin, meaning the body cannot digest sugar properly, so it builds up in the blood.

Over time this can damage blood vessels, internal organs and nerves.

Many people do not have symptoms for years, but signs can include feeling thirsty, needing to pee a lot and tiredness.

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Diabetes UK outlined the growing danger in a letter to the Government, urging them to make it a key feature of their 10-year NHS plan.

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It warns the illness is a “gateway to other serious health issues” and could cost the NHS £18billion a year by 2035.

Find out ways to lower your type 2 diabetes risk below...