Public health chiefs have said more than one in ten people in Kirklees are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
A nationwide review by Public Health England (PHE) was commissioned in a bid to tackle rising levels of the disease, which is closely linked to poor diet and lack of exercise.
Diabetes UK has warned the disease can lead to devastating complications such as blindness, amputations and stroke, and ultimately early death.
The PHE survey has found about 11.5% of adults in Kirklees – almost 39,702 people – are at risk of developing the disease.
There are now 21,921 adults with diabetes in Kirklees but health officials fear it could more than double unless action is taken.
In Calderdale, officials say 19,584 people over the age of 16 are at risk of developing diabetes – 12.2% of the population.
Type 2 diabetes is especially prevalent in the south Asian community and areas with a high elderly population.
It accounts for around 90% of all people with diabetes and is treated with a healthy diet and increased physical activity.
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease that is not related to lifestyle and is usually diagnosed in childhood.
Barbara Young, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK, said: “Having high blood glucose levels significantly increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, which is a serious health condition which affects 2.9 million people in England, and can lead to devastating complications such as blindness, amputations and stroke, and ultimately early death.”
In June, the Examiner revealed diabetes levels were rising faster in north Kirklees than in Huddersfield.
Figures show 798 new cases of the disease were diagnosed last year – a 7.2% increase – more than double the England average (3.2%).
Huddersfield doctors saw a growth of less than 2% with 338 new diagnoses.
From next year, people identified as at risk of developing type 2 diabetes will be offered a place on the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NHS DPP), which will reduce their risk by helping them lose weight, be more active and have a healthier diet.
Dr Andrew Lee, diabetes lead at PHE Yorkshire and the Humber, 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.”
A Kirklees Council spokesperson said they would be working with the NHS to boost prevention.
They said: “Kirklees, in common with the rest of Yorkshire, has seen increasing levels of type 2 diabetes over the last few years.
“This reflects a number of factors, primarily the fact that almost two thirds (62%) of the adult population are overweight or obese and more than two thirds (67%) are inactive - doing less than 1 x 30 mins of physical activity a week.
“Diabetes, and a host of other conditions, could be prevented by eating a healthy diet low in processed sugars and fats and high in fruit and vegetables. It also important that people take regular exercise.
“This can include anything from walking, gardening and cycling through to participation in sport or other physical activity.”
Type 2 diabetes currently accounts for about 22,000 early deaths and costs the NHS £8.8billion every year.
