Heart 'risk' to diabetes sufferers

The figure follows an assessment of how well cardiovascular risk factors are being managed in people with diabetes.

A report from the charity Diabetes UK said many diabetics are failing to reach recommended target levels for key risk factors such as blood pressure and cholesterol.

As a result, 80% of the 2.2 million diabetics in Britain were likely to die from cardiovascular disease (CVD) - a total of 2.4 million.

Diabetes UK called for greater public awareness of the strong link between the disease and cardiovascular risk.

Currently only 28% of the general public and 47% of diabetics realise that diabetes can lead to heart disease, according to the charity. The reality is that after smoking, diabetes is the leading cause of CVD in the UK.

Simon O'Neill, director of care, information and advocacy services at Diabetes UK, said: "This is a national emergency as half of the people who are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes already show signs of cardiovascular disease at the time of diagnosis.

"Heart disease is the most common complication of diabetes. It is essential we take immediate steps to ensure people have access to the appropriate care and treatment. We want to see better information for the newly diagnosed as well as improved access to education courses and dietetic and lifestyle advice."

Type 1, or insulin-dependent diabetes, is an autoimmune disease that normally occurs at a young age. The much more common type 2 disease is linked to diet and obesity and usually appears later in life. Only 60% of people with type 2 diabetes are known to be taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs.

Diabetes UK wants to see tighter cholesterol guidelines proposed in 2005 recognised by the National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence (Nice), which advises on new treatments. They recommend total cholesterol blood levels of less than four millimoles per litre (mml/l) for people with diabetes.