One in five UK hospital patients is a diabetic

London: One in five hospital patients is diabetic, placing a ‘terrifying' burden on the cash-strapped NHS, a study has found.

Britain's soaring obesity rate has triggered record levels of the condition, which can result in blindness, nerve damage and amputations.

The first diabetes audit of NHS hospitals found that while 4 per cent of the UK population have diabetes, a staggering 20 per cent of hospital patients have the disease twice the previous estimate.

Some are being treated for the direct consequences of diabetes, in which uncontrolled blood sugar levels can cause sufferers to fall into a coma, kidney failure, ulcers or nerve damage. Other patients suffered heart attacks and strokes, the risk of which is increased fivefold by diabetes.

Even when diabetes sufferers are admitted for reasons unrelated to their condition, the audit reveals they end up staying in hospital for longer.

Professor Anthony Barnett, clinical director for diabetes at Heart of England NHS foundation trust, blamed unhealthy lifestyles for the sharp increase.

He said: "The situation we are facing as a country is absolutely terrifying.

"The obesity rates get worse and worse, the numbers with diabetes keep mushrooming, and given that these people are prone to a whole range of serious medical conditions, it has enormous impact on NHS resources."

Some 2.6 million people in the UK have diabetes, with 2.3 million having the ‘type 2' version linked to obesity, smoking, alcohol or lack of exercise.