Know your risk to prevent Type 2 diabetes
Yesterday marked the start of Diabetes Prevention Week (10–16 May) and Richmond Council’s Public Health team is urging residents to find out their risk of Type 2 diabetes and make healthy changes to their lifestyle to prevent the condition from developing.
It is estimated that 15,000 people living in the borough and 2 million people living in England are at high risk of getting Type 2 diabetes, which can lead to serious health complications and a higher risk of dying with COVID-19.
Find out your risk by using the Diabetes UK Know Your Risk Score at riskscore.diabetes.org.uk. It is a quick and easy online tool with seven simple questions. Within a few minutes you will know if you are at low, increased, moderate or high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Those with a moderate or high risk (score of 16 and above), can sign up to the free NHS Healthier You programme in Richmond – a personalised prevention programme that will reduce your risk of Type 2 diabetes by encouraging you to eat well, move more and lose weight (if needed). You should also visit your GP for a follow-up blood test to check for diabetes.
Richmond Council’s Director of Public Health, Shannon Katiyo, said:
“Filling out the Know Your Risk Tool takes a matter of minutes, and it could be the most important thing you do for your health as you get an immediate result. All you need is your height, weight and waist measurement to find out if you need to start making some simple lifestyle changes to your diet and physical activity to prevent Type 2 diabetes.
“Anyone can get Type 2 diabetes, but certain factors can increase your risk, including high blood pressure, if you are older, if a family member has the condition, if you carry extra weight, or if you are from Black Caribbean, Black African and South Asian backgrounds.
Cllr Piers Allen, Lead member for Adult Social Care and Health and Chair of the Richmond Health and Wellbeing Board, said:
“Finding out if you’re at risk of Type 2 diabetes means you can make changes to your lifestyle to reduce your future risk. There are services such as the Healthier You Programme available in the borough to support you in eating healthier, losing weight, and being more active, all of which together have been proven to reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
“Please be proactive with your health this Diabetes Prevention Week so that you can live long, happy and healthy lives.”
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