Know your risk with online tool or get checked at mobile testing van

Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Week begins 20 May in the West Midlands and NHS health bosses are encouraging those over the age of 40 and people of Black and South Asian ethnicity over the age of 25 to learn more about diabetes prevention and to know their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by visiting the Diabetes UK online tool.

Around 90% people with diabetes have type 2 which can be prevented or delayed through being more physically active, eating healthily and managing their weight.

There are 772,683 adults with Type 2 diabetes in the Midlands, nearly 1 in 12 people, or 8.2% of the regional population. This compares with a 7.5% prevalence in England. In addition, over a million people in England have undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes.

Some groups are at higher risk of type 2 diabetes including: men, people of South Asian or Black ethnicity, people who are overweight and people with a family history of type 2 diabetes. Black and South Asian people have a higher risk of getting Type 2 diabetes after the age of 25, compared with those from a White background where risk increases after the age of 40.

In West Midlands, mobile testing van sites will be in two locations: Tuesday 21 May (Tesco Belmont, Abbotsmead Rd, Belmont, Hereford, HR2 7XS); and Wednesday 22 May (High Town Market Day, location to be announced). Those attending can simply have a conversation about their risk with a clinician or have a finger prick blood test for early signs of diabetes. Also offered are blood pressure checks, BMI Checks and Lipid Testing. All of which can be early indicators of developing Type 2 diabetes. Next steps, if needed, will also be shared.

The health complications of getting Type 2 diabetes can be serious and life changing. These may include loss of sight, loss of limbs, increased risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.

Bill, a diabetes patient in the West Midlands, said: “I suppose its like many diagnoses you hear about, you think it won’t happen to you. In my case the shock of being told I was on the way to contracting a much heard of, but little understood disease, proved to be a game changer.  The result of my blood test led to me being contacted by a lifestyle coach from Living Well Taking Control (LWTC), after a referral from my GP.

“To date, more than three stone has been shed, and I am able to see part of the body that has been obscured for too long as my waist measurement shrinks. Being of an age, I get free time at local leisure centre gym and the walks are increasing in length, although I still work part time. Still a long way to go and some way off a target weight, but going in the right direction.”

Professor Vinod Patel, Co-Clinical Director – Diabetes for the Midlands Cardiovascular Disease and Respiratory Network, added: “If you have symptoms of diabetes or suspect that you could have hypertension, then please get a blood pressure check and a blood test at your GP Practice, or visit the mobile test sites in the West Midlands on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. You can prevent type 2 diabetes by eating a healthy, balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and keeping physically active.”

In many cases if you have type 2 diabetes, it may even be possible to reverse it. There may be local programmes for this. Please contact your GP Practice for details.

Peter Shorrick, Head of Midlands and East at Diabetes UK said: “If you have symptoms of diabetes, i.e. weeing a lot, especially at night, being really thirsty, feeling more tired than usual, losing weight without trying to – and getting thinner, genital itching or thrush, cuts and wounds taking longer to heal, blurred eyesight, please come and visit the mobile test sites in the West Midlands this week.

“We will also be giving out information to support self-management, and signposting people to key local support services including local prevention programmes and Talking Therapies Services in supporting people’s mental health.”

If you think you are at risk of type 2 diabetes and would like more information, please visit Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, or, if you have any other concerns related to your health, please contact your GP practice.

Find out your risk of type 2 diabetes by using the Diabetes UK Know Your Risk Score at riskscore.diabetes.org.uk or by searching ‘Know Your Risk’.