One in six people with diabetes believe they are discriminated against at work and many would like more help from their employer, a study has found.

Research by Diabetes UK found that almost one in 15 had not told their boss they have the condition, while one in four wanted time off to attend appointments or flexibility to take regular breaks to take medication.

The charity said employers can only help if they are aware that a staff member has diabetes, and how it affects their working day.

Helen Dickens of 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.

"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.

"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."