 Diabetes is an increasing public health concern worldwide. There are 2.9 million people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK United Kingdom and an estimated 850,000 people who have the condition but are not recognised. Whilst the rates of other vascular risk factors such as hypertension, smoking and hypercholesterolaemia are falling, the rates of diabetes in the UK are rising. This is despite the co-ordinated efforts of primary and secondary care prevention programmes. 