A significant proportion of Britons who have been diagnosed with diabetes are hiding the condition from their friends or colleagues, a new survey has revealed.

Three-fifths of the nearly one million people who are reluctant to tell others of their condition do so at work, while 56 per cent keep their diabetes a secret from their friends, according to the poll by Diabetes UK.

Some respondents to the study said they did so to avoid having people believe that an unhealthy diet led to their diagnosis, while others cited a fear of being discriminated against when applying for a job.

In spite of the Disability Discrimination Act, there are blanket bans in place in certain sectors that prevent people with diabetes from gaining employment, Diabetes UK says.

Chief executive of the charity Barbara Young explained that it is important to understand why some diabetics turn to health-endangering measures to keep their secret, such as missing insulin injections and putting off blood glucose tests.

"Learning to live with and manage diabetes is challenging enough without the physical and psychological impact of such a burden," she remarked.

The research may have implications for what companies put on their pharma labels when manufacturing diabetes-related products.

Denny Bros Ltd, 14 June 2011