GPs have been urged to work with other social care and local health professionals to tackle the growing "epidemic" of type 2 diabetes.

The call comes from medicines watchdog NICE, which published new guidance at its annual conference held in Birmingham on preventing type 2 diabetes.

NICE said people from certain communities and population groups – such as people of South Asian, African-Caribbean, black African and Chinese descent, and those from a lower socio-economic background - were at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes is estimated to account for at least 5% of UK healthcare expenditure, with drug costs for treating type 2 diabetes accounting for about 7% of the total NHS drugs budget.

Around 2.8 million people and around 90% have type 2 diabetes.

The new NICE guidance calls for commissioners and healthcare providers working more collaboratively with the NHS, local authorities, the commercial sector and voluntary organisations.

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