The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has updated its type 2 diabetes guidelines, prioritising places on NHS lifestyle change programmes for people at high risk of developing the disease. NICE says this would cover 1.7m people in England.

The guidance advises that all adults over 40 should go and see their GP for a diabetes risk assessment and that adults with conditions such as obesity, stroke or high blood pressure and high-risk ethnic minority groups should also be assessed. 

NICE said the lifestyle programmes - that encourage healthy eating and exercise - should also be designed to help as many people as possible, including those with mental illness or dementia.

Prof Mark Baker, director of the centre for guidelines at NICE, told the BBC: "We know that helping someone to make simple changes to their diet and exercise levels can significantly reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. 

"This approach is a cost-effective way of managing an illness that currently costs the NHS around £8.8bn a year. 

"We need to make sure that the people most at risk have access to the care they need." 

You can access the guidance update in full here.