Reduce your risk of…
Reducing your risk of diabetes
The “Reducing your risk of diabetes” information on this page applies not only to people who do not yet have pre-diabetes and diabetes but also can help people who already have pre-diabetes, lower their risk of developing diabetes.
THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WITH DIABETES ARE INCREASING
“We estimate that more than five million people in the UK are living with diabetes, which is an all-time high. Our data shows that more 4.3 million people in the UK live with diabetes. Additionally, 850,000 people could be living with diabetes who are yet to be diagnosed. These registration figures for 2021-22 are up by 148,591 from 2020-2021. ”
“How many people in the UK have diabetes?”. Diabetes UK website. Retrieved 24th January 2024
ESTIMATING YOUR RISK OF DIABETES WITHOUT A BLOOD TEST – Know your risk tool
From the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme – delivered by Living Well Taking Control
Find out your risk score by completing the “Know your Risk tool” ARE YOU AT RISK? | diabetes-prevention
If you score is 16 or higher, you may be at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Contact your GP practice about having a blood test and to check your eligibility to access the Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.
Self-referring to the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme
“If your GP has sent you a letter or text which confirms that you are at risk of Type 2 diabetes, you are able to register for the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.
Fill in the form with your blood test reading SELF-REFERRAL FORM | diabetes-prevention
Free NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme course explained
From the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme – delivered by Living Well Taking Control
Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West: Includes a patient leaflet which you can download BUCKS, OXFORD & BERKSHIRE WEST | diabetes-prevention
You can also check for diabetes with an NHS Health Check
You can check if you have diabetes and what your cholesterol is with a blood test, as part of an
If you wish to have a diabetes blood test separate to an NHS health check this can be done through your GP practice.
LIFESTYLE CHANGES CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND ARE WELL SUPPORTED IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
The advice is simple
- Eat a healthy balanced diet
- Lose weight if you are overweight.
- Do some physical activity regularly
This is explained further in the articles below:
From Diabetes UK and Patient info
Pre-Diabetes: Preventing type 2 diabetes
- Understand your risk | Preventing type 2 diabetes | Diabetes UK
- Reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes | Diabetes UK
- 10 tips for healthy eating | Type 2 diabetes risk | Diabetes UK
- Prediabetes | Diabetes UK | Reduce risk type 2 diabetes
- Pre-Diabetes | Impaired Glucose Tolerance | Patient
From the NHS and Diabetes UK
This information is intended for diabetics but the advice would be the same for pre-diabetics and those without pre-diabetes but who are at risk.
What is a healthy, balanced diet for diabetes
- What is a healthy, balanced diet for diabetes? | Diabetes UK
- Type 2 diabetes – Food and keeping active – NHS
Self referral to local support even if your risk does not qualify you for the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme
There is self-care advice and also self-referral information with excellent local support to support lifestyle changes in reducing your risk of diabetes even if you do not qualify for the NHS diabetes prevention programme. These are all included here:
Lifestyle Changes
Importantly you can also consider how to make any changes part of a new lifestyle which is much more likely to make the changes permanent. More information can be found under
FURTHER INFORMATION ON diabetes
Further information on diabetes in adults can be found under
Videos and podcasts
On the videos and podcasts page there are links to some relevant videos and podcasts covering the topic of reducing your risk of diabetes.
- Videos And Podcasts – see section “wellbeing and disease prevention”.
