Seven key signs of diabetes to watch out for as cases soar

Hundreds of thousands of people likely have diabetes without being aware it has been revealed, as a leading charity warns of a 'rapidly escalating crisis.'

Diabetes UK says 4.3million people have been diagnosed with either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, whilst an estimated 850,000 are believed to be living with the condition without knowing.

It causes a person’s blood sugar to become too high. Type 1 is where when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin, the hormone made by the pancreas which helps glucose from food get into your cells to be used for energy.

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Type 2 is the most common, and it’s when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or the body’s cells fail to react to insulin. It increases the risk of stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure, narrowing of blood vessels and nerve damage.

However, this form of the disease is considered the easier to manage of the two. Ninety percent of those affected have Type 2 diabetes, which can be hereditary but is often triggered by a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet and millions of others are said to be at risk of developing it reports the Mirror.

Diabetes UK CEO Chris Askew said: “These figures show we’re in the grip of a rapidly escalating crisis. “Spiralling numbers of people are now living with Type 2 diabetes and millions are at high risk of developing the condition. "The fear of serious complications is a life-long reality for millions of people across the UK.”

Two-thirds of the population are overweight, which raises their risk. Figures reveal around 2.4million people are at 'high risk' of Type 2 diabetes, with an alarming increase among the under-40s.

“With the