Hundreds of diabetes sufferers are dying prematurely every week, NHS figures reveal as experts warn the health service is not doing enough to support patients with the condition.

Avoidable complications such as amputations, sight loss, kidney disease, stroke and heart disease are contributing to around 500 deaths a week, according to the charity Diabetes UK.

The figure comes from analysis of the NHS National Diabetes Audit, which shows deaths have increased roughly 10 per cent over the past three years.

The report found that people between the ages of 35 and 64 living with type 1 diabetes are three to four times more likely to die prematurely than those without the condition.

Meanwhile those in the same age range who have type 2 diabetes are up to two times more likely to die prematurely.

The most common complications of diabetes which can lead to early death are stroke and cardiovascular disease.

Every week in the UK, 680 people suffer a stroke as a complication of diabetes, with one in five strokes caused by diabetes.

Diabetes UK said 530 people suffer a diabetes-related heart attack and there are around 2,000 cases of diabetes-related heart failure.

Since 2017, the NHS Diabetes Transformation Fund has invested more than £80 million across England to improve the care people with diabetes receive.