This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Rise in people checking their risk of type 2 diabetes
291,325 people used the Diabetes UK Know Your Risk tool since the end of July – a 637 per cent increase compared to two months previously.
Access to the Healthier You Diabetes Prevention Programme was boosted following new findings that people are twice as likely to die from coronavirus if they have type 2 diabetes.
NHS England says that over 5,000 people have now self-referred for support to lose weight and prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes and the programme has capacity to support 5,000 people every week. The organisation is now urging even more people who are at risk to check their risk and sign up.
People can use the online test, hosted by Diabetes UK, to calculate their risk of developing the condition by answering basic questions including age, weight and ethnicity. If their score comes back as sufficiently high, they can refer themselves to a local service for support remotely or online, without having to go through a healthcare professional.
Jonathan Valabhji, NHS national clinical director for diabetes and obesity said: “The fact that two thirds of our nation live with being overweight or obese coupled with the increased risk of more severe outcomes from coronavirus means that there has never been a better time to lose weight, exercise more and eat more healthily.
“It’s great to see so many people becoming more aware of their personal risk level, but we want to see even more people signing up to the support we have available. It is free and could be life-changing.”
The NHS Long Term Plan set out radical action to address the rising obesity levels including by expanding the programme so that 200,000 a year could benefit as well as piloting low calorie diets for those recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
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