Health providers are welcoming new government resources to help combat diabetes.

To coincide with World Diabetes Day today, the government's provided health boards with a toolkit to assess how well they're caring for patients.

Diabetes New Zealand president, Chris Baty, says nearly a quarter of a million New Zealanders have the condition.

With more than 50 people being diagnosed a day, she says the problem's getting worse.

She says the new resources will complement existing services.