Diabetes rates in West Cheshire are still rising fast according to NHS statistics.

Charity Diabetes UK has analysed statistics provided by the West Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group.

There were 12,705 people in the region suffering from the disease in 2013-14, which works out at 6.01% of the population.

It also means there was a 3.07% increase on its prevalence in 2012-13.

Diabetes UK chief executive Barbara Young said: “Diabetes already costs the NHS nearly £10 billion a year, and 80 per cent of this is spent on managing avoidable complications.

“So there is huge potential to save money and reduce pressure on NHS hospitals and services through providing better care to prevent people with diabetes from developing devastating and costly complications.”

Both rates are slightly below the statistics for England and Wales of 6.21% of the population now diagnosed and a yearly rise of 3.24%.

Overall the charity said the number of people suffering from diabetes had risen by 60% in a decade.

Ms Young added: “The NHS must prioritise providing better care, along with improved and more flexible education options, for people with diabetes now, and give them the best possible chance of living long and healthy lives.

“Until then, avoidable human suffering will continue and the costs of treating diabetes will continue to spiral out of control and threaten to bankrupt the NHS. Now is the time for action.”