DIABETES is known to affect 8,000 people in York - and experts believe the figure could almost double within a decade.

Dr John Reid, diabetes clinical lead at Selby and York Primary Care Trust (PCT), said numbers were increasing "at the rate of knots", with more children and young people than ever before now being diagnosed.

"There are big increases, particularly in those aged over 55," said Dr Reid. "The reason for it is largely lifestyle-related; we don't get as much exercise as we should, are generally getting bigger, have poor diets and longer life expectancy."

Diabetes is a condition that affects 1.4 million people nationally, where blood glucose levels are too high and the body cannot convert starchy and sugary foods into energy

Most sufferers have type two, where the body does not produce enough insulin. Type two is most common in older people and can go undiscovered for a long time.

Type one is when the body stops producing insulin, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes, kidney damage leading to kidney failure and in more extreme cases, blindness and amputation of limbs.

Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in people of working age.

Work to improve the situation is ongoing within the Diabetes National Service Framework (NSF), which covers 12 "standards", from prevention, diagnosis, care and surveillance to treatment of complications, during health and sickness, at all ages.

Dr Reid said although many people have undetected or untreated diabetes, the PCT have improved screening to ensure diabetes in high risk groups such as clinically obese people and those with heart disease or hypertension, is picked up early. "There's a lot of work at the PCT to improve services," said Dr Reid, a partner at Posterngate Surgery, in Selby.

"There's a lot of investment in retinal screening and to catch people early and get them on the right treatment."

Updated: 08:22 Thursday, May 20, 2004