Tesco is to take part in the biggest ever awareness campaign about the risks of diabetes linked to lifestyle and obesity, after pledging to raise £10m for Diabetes UK.

The partnership comes with the number of people in the UK diagnosed with diabetes reaching three million for the first time and will fund a campaign on Type 2 diabetes risk factors aimed at reaching the estimated seven million people at high risk from the condition.

“This will make a real difference in curbing the rise in the condition by funding the biggest ever public health campaign on risk factors and symptoms of Type 2 diabetes,” said Diabetes UK chief executive Barbara Young.

Tesco will also help fund pioneering research into a vaccine for Type 1 diabetes, which is not linked to diet and lifestyle.

“Diabetes affects millions of families and communities across the UK and as today’s news confirms, the number of people with this condition is increasing,” said Tesco group corporate affairs director Rebecca Shelley.

“We have the opportunity to inspire our colleagues and customers to come together, raise awareness and much needed funds to help the millions of people with diabetes in the UK.”

Tesco linked up with Diabetes UK last September to work with Tesco Diets in a partnership to help raise awareness of the importance of healthy eating and weight management. It set out to raise £100,000 through the ‘lbs for £s’ scheme, where £1 was donated for every 1lb lost by a Tesco Diets member.

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