Research revealing that people with diabetes suffer 200,000 complications a year represents a “scandal”, according to a leading diabetes researcher.

Professor Kamlesh Khunti says complications such as amputation, heart attack, stroke and blindness can largely be avoided through “better care and education”. Based on National Diabetes Audit data, Diabetes UK has found there were 199,537 cases of debilitating diabetes-related complications in England and Wales in 2012/13.

“We need to place a bigger emphasis on proactive care rather than reactive care – it is in everyone’s best interests,” said Professor Khunti.