The money is aimed at developing the services over the next three years amid signs of a significant increase in the number of people diagnosed as having the condition.

Some estimates suggest the number of people in Scotland with diabetes will double in the next 10 years.

Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm unveiled details of the investment at a major diabetes conference attended by some 500 people in Glasgow.

Scotland is at the heart of a worldwide trend towards ever greater numbers of people being diagnosed with diabetes

Alan McGinlay Diabetes UK (Scotland)

He said about 150,000 people would benefit from the �1.55m.

Scottish Executive figures reveal diabetes is rising at the rate of 13,000 cases annually.

The charity Diabetes UK adds that about 120,000 people in Scotland already have the condition and a further 90,000 are unaware they have it.

A spokesman said the number of people with diabetes was stretching health services to the extent that newly diagnosed patients in the Highlands can wait 70 weeks to see a specialist.

'Complacency' challenge

Diabetes leads to problems with the way the body processes sugar, and without proper treatment, blindness, amputations and kidney disease can result.

Alan McGinley, an official with Diabetes UK in Scotland, said the executive figure of 13,000 new cases annually were very alarming.

He said: "This confirms that Scotland is at the heart of a worldwide trend towards ever greater numbers of people being diagnosed with diabetes.

Sir Steve Redgrave: "Devastated"

"Figures like these should challenge any potential complacency about the scale and seriousness of diabetes as a health issue in Scotland."

The Glasgow conference comes the day after Sir Steven Redgrave spoke of his fear at being diagnosed with diabetes.

The five-times Olympic medallist spoke of his "absolute devastation" on discovering he had the disease at the launch of a campaign for Thursday's World Diabetes Day in London.

He said: "I was absolutely devastated. I did not know much about it. I thought I wasn't able to carry on with my rowing career."

Early detection

But Sir Steven struggled on and with the support of his doctor wife and treatment he became a gold medallist once again.

Now Sir Steven has called on the million Britons who may have the disease to be tested or risk their lives.

He said: "Speaking from experience, early detection of diabetes is important in order to manage the condition in a way that allows you to lead a normal life.

"If we catch diabetes early there is so much more which can be done to help control the condition which is the greatest cause of heart disease and blindness today."