The UK has the world's fifth highest rate of type 1 diabetes in children, a health charity has said.

Diabetes UK says 24.5 per 100,000 children under 14 in the UK are diagnosed every year with type 1 diabetes which, unlike type 2, is not linked to lifestyle or obesity. Of the 89 countries included, only Finland, Sweden, Saudi Arabia and Norway have higher rates.

The UK rate is more than double that in France and Italy; and in Papua New Guinea and Venezuela, which have the joint lowest reported rates in the world.

Scientists do not fully understand why there is such wide variation, but genetics may play a role.

Type 1 diabetes, where the body does not produce insulin, can lead to serious illness and even death if it is not diagnosed quickly.

In the UK, 9% of parents are aware of its symptoms and one-quarter of the 2000 children a year who develop diabetes are only diagnosed once they are already ill.

It suggests the UK rate is so high as parents are unaware of the four main symptoms for type 1 diabetes: frequent urinating, excessive thirst, extreme tiredness, and weight loss.

Barbara Young, chief executive of Diabetes UK, said: "Type 1 diabetes is a serious condition that can lead to devastating complications and early death if not managed. This is why children need to set off on the right path in terms of managing their condition."