Unhealthy diets and lack of physical activity are among the reasons the number of people diagnosed with diabetes has grown by more than 4,000 across Norfolk and Suffolk, doctors are warning.

New figures released today by Diabetes UK show the number of people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes grew by 2,484 last year in areas covered by the five Norfolk clinical commissioning groups (CCG).

The biggest rise in the region came in Great Yarmouth and Waveney, where the number of people living with diabetes rose from 13,261 in 2012/13 to 14,112 in 2013/14, an increase of 6.4pc.

Nationally the number is at an all time high, with around 3.3 million people diagnosed with the condition.

The figures were released to mark the start of Diabetes Week. Figures for the 2014/15 financial year will be released next year.

Cath Gorman, director of quality and safety at Great Yarmouth and Waveney CCG, said: 'The number of people with diabetes across the country is on the increase, and the situation in Great Yarmouth and Waveney is no different.

'This is largely linked to lifestyle factors, such as unhealthy diets, increasing obesity and lack of physical activity, as well as a growing ageing population.'

In Norwich there were 8,450 diabetics in 2014, a rise of 312 from the previous year. A roadshow held in the city in May found that 44pc of people tested there were referred to their doctor because of their likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.

Sharon Roberts, regional manager for the east at Diabetes UK, said: 'We are very concerned that so many people in Norwich are at risk of type 2 diabetes.

'For many people, eating more healthily and taking more exercise can delay or stop them from getting type 2 diabetes.'

Increases in the other areas were: South Norfolk (581 to 11,144 overall), North Norfolk (438 to 9,463 overall), West Norfolk (302 to 10,723 overall), Ipswich and East Suffolk (817 to 18,280 overall), West Suffolk (710 to 11,849), and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough (1,467 to 40,002).

In total there were 53,892 people living with diabetes in the Norfolk CCG areas.

• How does having diabetes affect your life? Email nicholas.carding@archant.co.uk