DESPITE it being one of the most common medical conditions, one in seven people with diabetes in the south west reckon they've been discriminated against because of it.

Research from Diabetes UK has found that one in seven -15 per cent - of people with diabetes have suffered this way and a further third say the condition causes them difficulty in their job.

Nine per cent of diabetic people said they hadn't even told their employer that they have the condition. Around a quarter said they would like time off work for diabetes-related appointments.

Helen Dickens, Assistant Director of Campaigns at Diabetes UK, said: “Thousands of people across the UK have spoken out about how a lack of understanding from their employers can make working with diabetes not just exhausting and stressful, but also potentially life-threatening. We heard from people who had to give up their jobs in order to manage their condition safely."

She said that Diabetes UK hopes that the survey will start a conversation about long-term health conditions in the workplace.

"Managing diabetes can involve taking medication – including injecting insulin at the right time – and for some people testing blood glucose levels multiple times a day," said Helen Dickens.

“Diabetes is one of the largest health crises of our time, affecting more than 2.2 million people of working age in the UK. Missing essential health checks or not taking medication on time can lead to devastating complications, such as amputations, stroke, heart disease, kidney failure and even early death."

She said employers may lack knowledge of diabetes or not understand its impact. "We need to talk more about the condition and the many ways it affects people’s lives in order to persuade workplaces to offer greater understanding and flexibility," she said.