Health trusts are being urged to invest in their diabetes services, after a study found that spending just over �51,000 on a new service at a Norwich hospital helped to save almost �300,000 in one year.

People with diabetes are more likely to be admitted to hospital and have longer stays than people of the same age without the condition.

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital has a diabetes in-patient specialist nurse service, which consists of a full-time band 6 nurse and a part-time clinical support worker, at an annual cost of �51,682.

However, the NHS Diabetes study found that 1,330 diabetes bed days per year were avoided after putting the service in place, which is estimated to have saved the hospital �299,250.

NHS Diabetes Director Anna Morton said: 'There is cause for concern about the quality of in-patient care and people with diabetes frequently experience avoidable complications while in hospital.

'If people with diabetes are admitted to hospital, care from diabetes specialist nurses reduces problems and shortens lengths of stay. Unnecessary hospital admissions and lengths of stay do not only increase costs, more importantly they cause great distress for patients.'

The research comes ahead of World Diabetes Day, on Monday, which will see both City Hall and Norwich Castle 'lit in blue' to raise awareness of diabetes, which is on the rise in Norfolk with 70,000 in the county expected to have the condition by 2030.

N&N consultant in diabetes, and co-chair of the local diabetes network, Professor Mike Sampson said: 'This increase is partly due to genetics, and partly due to changes in diet, lifestyle and weight in the population, and in individuals as they get older.'

For further information on diabetes visit NHS Choices at www.nhs.uk or www.worlddiabetesday.org.