TODAY, Saturday, November 14, is World Diabetes Day, putting a spotlight on the condition which affects 4.8 million people in the UK, including almost a million people living with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes.
In recent months, people living with diabetes have been disproportionately affected by Covid-19.
Around a third of those dying in England from Covid-19 had diabetes, and the relentlessness of managing diabetes has only been exacerbated by pandemic.
This World Diabetes Day, it’s vital that people know their risk of type 2 diabetes, and are aware of the signs and symptoms to look out for that may indicate they might have diabetes.
A quick and easy way to find out your risk of developing type 2 diabetes is to use Diabetes UK’s free, online Know Your Risk tool. Developed by Leicester University NHS Trust, the tool asks simple questions about your health, age, gender and ethnicity to determine your risk of type 2 diabetes and provides information that could help you reduce your risk.
If you find you have a moderate or high risk level, you should contact your GP practice, and if you live in England, you may be able to self-refer onto the Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.
Since its launch in 2012, almost two million people have completed the tool
Find out your risk here: https://riskscore.diabetes.org.uk/start
Too many people aren’t diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes until their symptoms become severe and need hospital treatment.
There are four key signs of diabetes to look out for: the 4Ts.
The 4Ts are:
Toilet – Going to the toilet a lot, bed-wetting by a previously dry child or heavier nappies in babies
Thirsty – Being really thirsty and not being able to quench the thirst
Tired – Feeling more tired than usual
Thinner – Unexplained weight loss or looking thinner than usual
Peter Shorrick, Midlands and East Regional Head at Diabetes UK, said: “In a year that’s been tough for all of us, this World Diabetes Day we’re encouraging our community to show the big difference we can make when we come together.
“By taking small steps, like visiting our Know Your Risk tool and encouraging others to do the same, or familiarising yourself with the 4Ts – maybe even adding it as a question to your family zoom quiz – we can contribute to ending the harm of diabetes.”
For more information, visit www.diabetes.org.uk
