Diabetes UK said up to one in three female diabetes sufferers under age 30 may be skipping insulin shots for weight related reasons, a practice known as diabulimia, The Daily Mail said Wednesday.

An estimated 5,000 women -- 3,000 of them teenagers -- take part in the practice.

Diabulimia can have severe health consequences, including blindness, heart failure, kidney disease and an increased risk of diabetic coma.

"Diabetes is a chronic condition," said Matt Hunt, science information manager for Diabetes UK. "Teenagers and young adults need appropriate and rapid access to psychological care and support to help them manage their condition effectively.

"There also needs to be improved transitional care services from children to adult diabetes services which, at present, do not always adequately address young adults needs," he said.