The findings have been made public to coincide with the launch of the "Missing Million" campaign, which aims to highlight the existence of an estimated million people in the UK who have diabetes, but do not yet know it.

If society keeps on ignoring its importance we will be facing a potential health timebomb

Delia Henry, Diabetes UK (Scotland)

Delia Henry, national manager of the organisation in Scotland, said: "This is an alarming state of affairs.

"These findings underline the myth that many people believe diabetes can be a mild condition.

"It is not, diabetes is one of the most serious health issues facing Scotland and the rest of the UK today and if society keeps on ignoring its importance we will be facing a potential health time-bomb."

About 210,000 people in Scotland already know they have diabetes but it is estimated that an additional 87,000 are unaware they have the condition.

Heart disease

If unchecked, diabetes puts the sufferer at increased risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney damage, amputations and blindness.

Diabetes UK (Scotland) is now challenging the government, healthcare professionals, people with diabetes and its own organisation to take urgent action to defuse the potential diabetes timebomb which threatens the nation.

The survey showed that only 24% of those who took part in the research knew that diabetes could lead to heart disease.

It also revealed that just over half, 53%, were aware that blindness can be a complication of diabetes.

Overall, people's general knowledge of diabetes and its effects were worse than the rest of the UK.