The number of people with diabetes in Scotland has reached an all-time high, according to official figures.
The jump, recorded in the NHS's Scottish Diabetes Survey 2014, has been described as a "great concern" by charity Diabetes Scotland, who also warned of a lack of education on the disease.
Figures from the survey show that a total of 276,430 people in Scotland registered with diabetes in 2014 - an increase of more than 8200 the previous year.
The data also revealed that almost 30,000 people (10 per cent) are living with Type 1 diabetes, while 244,050 (88 per cent) have Type 2 diabetes.
Additionally, an estimated 45,500 people in Scotland are living with undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes.
Jane-Claire Judson, national director of Diabetes Scotland, said: "Since 2008 there has been a 25 per cent increase in the number of people living with diabetes in Scotland.
"While this trend itself is of great concern, a major issue facing people living with diabetes is the lack of provision and access to good diabetes education. Managing diabetes without this education is like asking someone to drive a high performance car without any instruction."
She added: "We must get better at offering education to people who are living with diabetes and help them to manage this serious, complex and often overwhelming condition.
"It is crucial that education is made available both at the point of diagnosis and beyond as the education needs of people already living with the condition can change over time."
The charity claims that up to 80 per cent of serious health complications arising from the disease - including lower limb amputation, blindness, and stroke - could be avoided through better management of the condition.
Currently the NHS spends £1 billion each year treating diabetes. The charity claims that the majority of this is spent dealing with avoidable complications.
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