At least one in 12 Bolton residents is living with life-altering diabetes – the highest rate of all 10 districts in Greater Manchester.

Data from Diabetes UK suggests 8.84 per cent of residents were diagnosed with the life-changing disease as of this time last year, a figure which was around one and a half percentage points more than the average across the country.

Nationwide, Type 2 diabetes makes up around 90 per cent of cases, while Type 1 diabetes makes up around eight per cent of cases. The rest are other forms of the disease such as those caused by other conditions or other medications.

The causes of Type 2 diabetes are complex, but it is linked to age, ethnicity and family. Concerningly, it is also linked to deprivation, with decreased access to education, healthcare and a healthy diet all resulting in an increased risk.

Clare Howarth, the head of the North of England at Diabetes UK, called for national leaders and local leaders to address the disease at its source starting with a strategy to reduce health inequalities and to tackle obesity.

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Ms Howarth said: "Diabetes is serious, and every diagnosis is life changing. It's a relentless condition, and the fear of serious complications is a lifelong reality for millions of people across the UK.    

"These latest figures show we're in the grip of a rapidly escalating diabetes crisis, with spiralling numbers of people now living with Type 2 diabetes and millions at risk of developing the condition. 

"But it doesn’t have to be this way. With the right care and the right support, cases of Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or put into remission. 

"What we need to see is the will, grit and determination from government and local health leaders to halt this crisis in its tracks and to improve the future health of our nation for generations to come."

As well as more than four million people diagnosed in the UK, more than 180,000 of them in Greater Manchester, Diabetes UK believes there are hundreds of thousands more people undiagnosed.

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Untreated, the condition can lead to complications such as heart attack, heart failure, sight loss and stroke.

Sue Baines, Bolton Council's cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: "We know that Bolton residents on average experience poorer health than elsewhere due to a number of complex factors. 

"These factors include the social determinants such as income, employment, housing and other social factors, which play a major role in shaping health and health inequalities.

"There is a strong awareness of these health inequalities across the council and our partners in the borough.

"I chair Bolton’s Active Connected and Prosperous Partnership Board, which has set out the Vision 2030 for the borough structured around the Marmot Principles.

"This is an approach to making policies to address the social determinants of health by improving the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age.

"Professor Sir Michael Marmot is a renowned expert in health inequalities and his team from University College London (UCL) are already working to support Greater Manchester.

"Changing diet, managing weight and engaging in physical activity can significantly reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

"Support is available for anyone who wants to improve their health with advice and apps on the Let’s Keep Bolton Moving website (letskeepboltonmoving.co.uk)."

For information on diabetes, including the signs and symptoms, go to diabetes.org.uk.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.