MORE people in Harrow are at risk of diabetes than across the rest of the country.

People in Harrow have one of the highest numbers of people at risk of Type 2 diabetes in the UK, at 14 per cent.

The percentage represents an estimate of 27,935 people aged 16 and over in Harrow who have high blood sugar levels, or non-diabetic hyperglycaemia.

Public Health England (PHE) have revealed that five million people in England are at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity and unhealthy lifestyles.

In most parts of the country, more than one in 10 adults are at risk of Type 2 and, in some regions, the risk is around one in seven.

The data is broken down by local authority for the first time ever, and ranges from 8.5 per cent of people in Brighton and Hove being at risk to 14 per cent in Harrow.

Duncan Selbie, chief executive of PHE, said: "We know how to lower the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes: lose weight, exercise and eat healthily, but it's hard to do it alone.

"PHE's evidence review shows that supporting people along the way will help them protect their health and that's what our prevention programme will do."

High rates were also found in regions with large ethnic minority or older populations, which are known risk factors for diabetes.