Diabetes is at epidemic proportions, endocrinologists warn, with two out of three people being diabetic or pre-diabetic in some parts of Australia according to a new study.

Endocrinologist Professor Glen Maberly already knew he was working in a diabetes hot spot in Sydney's western suburbs, but he was staggered at the results of a pilot study at Blacktown Hospital.

When patients at emergency were given a blood test, they were also tested for diabetes.

The study found that almost 40 per cent of the patients had diabetes, and a third of them did not even know they had the disease. Another third of patients were pre-diabetic.

"You have three times the chance of having diabetes living here [in Blacktown], compared to the seaside suburbs," Professor Maberly told 7.30.

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"We are at the beginning of the epidemic curve and so what we see now is only going to be magnified more next year and the year after."

Gail Smith is a patient of Professor Maberly.

She lives in Sydney's western suburbs and was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

"Two years ago I had the warning, and I let it go, didn't take any notice, now I am suffering for it," she said.

Ms Smith was rushed to hospital with dangerously high blood sugar levels.

"I nearly died," she said.

"I am full blown type 2 diabetes with insulin, so I stepped past diet and stepped past taking a pill to control it, I am full on four times a day insulin injections."

Diabetes Australia chief executive Greg Johnson said the experiences of patients in Sydney's west were being reflected in country and city areas across Australia.

"Right now in Australia there's over 1 million people who know they have got type 2 diabetes," he said.

"In addition there's probably a few hundred thousand who have the condition and don't know it.

Gail Smith was rushed to hospital with dangerously high blood sugar levels. ( ABC: 7.30 )

"The hot spots are where there is disadvantage. The disadvantage can be geographic, access to services, it can be financial and economic disadvantage."

Income, culture and exercise all play a role in diabetes. So does diet — especially the availability of fresh food.

Ms Smith lives in what is called a "food desert" — an area where fresh fruit and vegetables are not available within an easy walking distance.

"There is also a high concentration of fast food outlets," Professor Maberly said.

"It's a little bit to do with affordability, but it's also to do with convenience and choice."

70 Australians lose limbs to diabetes every week

The medical implications of diabetes are far reaching.

A person is two to four times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke if they have diabetes, and it is the leading cause of blindness in working age adults.

Theresa Camilleri has had her leg removed due to complications with type 2 diabetes. ( ABC: 7.30 )

And every week 70 Australians undergo amputation of a limb due to complications related to diabetes.

That is what happened to Theresa Camilleri last December.

"First they took one toe off, maybe they try to save it, but the next day they undid the dressing, the gangrene was going up already so they put me in straight away," she told 7.30.

"They said they have to remove the leg. [I was] very upset, very upset, but they had to do it."

Ms Camilleri is now learning to walk again with her prosthetic limb.

Stories like this terrify Ms Smith.

"I look at pizza, hamburgers, KFC, McDonalds and I think of my body being cut off and that stops me straight up — it's not worth the risk of it," she said.

Australia pays $14b annually for diabetes

Diabetes Australia's Mr Johnson said the cost of diabetes in Australia was estimated at about $14.6 billion each year.

"Every day about a quarter to a third of our beds in all hospitals in Australia are occupied by people with diabetes or complications of diabetes," he said.

"We should be taking it seriously and we should be saying to government and community leaders, this is a serious thing."

The Federal Government is working on a national diabetes strategy to tackle the epidemic.

But in the meantime, Western Sydney Health has already taken action, launching a program with a whole-of-district approach.

The aim is education, prevention and management, involving GPs, council services, hospitals, even schools.

Ms Smith is part of that program.

She has changed her diet and has already lost six kilograms. She has a word of advice for others.

"Take your doctor seriously, when he says that your sugar is high, watch your diet, do it."