Thousands of people are living with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes without knowing it. In the UK, around 6.3 million people are thought to have prediabetes.
Prediabetes means your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Without support or lifestyle changes, it can increase your chance of developing diabetes in the future.
Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Week is encouraging people to learn more about their risk and take simple steps to protect their health.
You may have a higher risk if you:
• are overweight
• have a family history of diabetes
• are from certain ethnic backgrounds
• have had high blood pressure
• had diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes)
If you had diabetes during pregnancy, your risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life may be higher.
A free online risk checker is available and only takes a few minutes to complete.
Finding out your risk early can help you make small changes that may lower your chance of developing type 2 diabetes.
For more information and to check your risk, visit: Diabetes Prevention Week