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Diabetes is becoming prevalent, claiming 65 lives a day in the United Kingdom. Medical practitioners are calling for prevention and improved diabetes care to reduce the number of deaths brought about by diabetes complications.

The number of people with diabetes has significantly increased over the last ten years from 1.5 million to 4.5 million with an estimated 1 million of Type 2 Diabetes sufferers who do not know they have the disease. Diabetes has been called "the fastest growing epidemic of our time" in a study conducted by a charity group.

There are two types of diabetes, the Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes according to the official website of Diabetes UK. Type 1 Diabetes occurs when a person has too much glucose in the body. It could also be caused by the body's inability to produce insulin, which is the hormone responsible for breaking down glucose.

It is estimated that around 10 percent have type 1 Diabetes, which can be managed by taking insulin doses daily. Type 2 Diabetes occurs when insulin is insufficient or not working properly. Around 80 to 90 percent of people have Type 2 Diabetes, which can be managed through a healthy diet and exercise.

Chris Askew, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK stressed the importance of awareness and prevention. He stressed that early detection is crucial in preventing diabetes-related complications and deaths, The Guardian reported.

According to Askew, about 20 people with diabetes undergo amputation a day and 80 percent of these cases could have been avoided. Moreover, people with diabetes suffer complications and the numbers say it all. There are 203 diabetic people with heart ailments, 78 suffer from strokes, and 39 in dire need of dialysis.

Furthermore, Askew is asking the government to raise awareness on diabetes care and prevention. Very few people follow proper diabetes care and majority of sufferers forego having health checks. In doing so, these people are unable to stop diabetes early on and only realize that they are sick when Diabetes has already progressed.