Figures have revealed that thousands of people in Norfolk have diabetes without realising it, putting their lives at risk.

Diabetes UK estimates that 13,211 undiagnosed diabetics live in Norfolk, in addition to the 47,353 Norfolk diabetics who have seen their doctor and had the condition confirmed.

Estimated numbers by Diabetes UK, showed a variance of 4pc of people who have undiagnosed diabetes in West Norfolk to over 47pc of people in Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

The risks for those who don't get an early diagnosis include cardiovascular disease, loss of sight and limbs and even death.

At yesterday's Norfolk Health and Scrutiny committee, Sharon Roberts, eastern regional manager for Diabetes UK, said that diabetes care in Norfolk can be seen as a 'postcode lottery'.

Miss Roberts said: ''There needs to be more work done into educating people about the symptoms of diabetes, as well as getting health groups to see why there is such a variance in figures and how they can be improved.'

Councillor Margaret Sommerville, said: 'What concerns me is that we seem to be reactive rather than proactive.

'Some people don't like to get checks and might see the symptoms as signs of getting older rather than having diabetes.

'It would be good if we could get health checks done in public at places like football matches as well as get Public Health England to help out in terms of educating people about the symptoms.'