Some five million people in England are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to an official study published yesterday.
The figures from Public Health England are an estimate of the number of people with non-diabetic hyperglycaemia.
The organisation released the figures as part of the development of a new NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.
This will offer patients programmes of at least nine months, including individual discussions on weight loss, physical activity and diet.
This is due to start early next year.
Public Health England says its review of evidence suggests these programmes can reduce the number of those at risk who develop type 2 diabetes by 26%. It says participants should lose 3kg in weight on average.
It says it is now consulting clinicians and practitioners – together with academics and the public – about the details of the programme.
Its figures on non-diabetic hyperglycaemia were compiled by the National Cardiovascular Health Intelligence Network, using five years of data from the Health Survey for England.
The NHS England national clinical director for diabetes and obesity, Professor Jonathan Valabhji, said: There are too many people on the cusp of developing Type 2 diabetes and we can change that.
"The growing body of evidence makes us confident that our NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme will reduce the numbers of those at risk going on to develop the debilitating disease."
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