WOKINGHAM residents can check their risk of developing life-changing condition with the help of a UK supermarket.
Tesco shoppers in the town are being encouraged to understand their health after new research revealed that four in 10 adults have never thought about their risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition that can lead to life-changing complications, including heart disease, stroke and sight loss if left undiagnosed or unmanaged.
However, with the right support it can be prevented or delayed, making early awareness and action particularly important.
Findings from Tesco and Diabetes UK show that many people may be missing opportunities to understand their risk or the support to make changes.
Among those who have not checked their risk, more than a quarter (27%) who took part in the research said it is because they do not believe they are at risk, while almost a quarter (24%) said they would not know how to check.
The survey also uncovered confusion about what influences a person’s likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes, with one in five people (21%) saying they do not know enough about type 2 diabetes risk to identify risk factors involved.
Tom Lye, Category Director for Health and Wellness at Tesco, said: “We know that taking steps to understand your health can sometimes feel daunting, which is why we want to make support as accessible as possible.
“Through our partnership with Diabetes UK, we’re encouraging people to use the free Know Your Risk tool to better understand their risk of type 2 diabetes.
If customers have concerns or questions, our trained pharmacy colleagues are on hand in over 350 Tesco Pharmacies to offer advice and support.”
There are tools and support out there for Wokingham people, but nearly half (48%) of adults who were asked said they were unaware that they could check their type 2 diabetes risk online or had not heard of the Diabetes UK Know Your Risk Tool.
Douglas Twenefour, head of Clinical at Diabetes UK, said: “Taking small steps can make a big difference.
“Diabetes UK’s free online Know Your Risk tool can help you understand your risk in just a few minutes, and offers advice on how to reduce it if needed.
“Through our partnership with Tesco, we’re making it easier for people to access vital information and support in their local communities.”
To help people better understand their likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes, Tesco and Diabetes UK are encouraging people to use the free online Diabetes UK Know Your Risk tool.
The simple online assessment takes just a few minutes to complete and can help identify whether someone may be at increased risk of developing the condition, as well as signposting them to further support where appropriate.
Customers who have concerns about their risk, symptoms or diabetes more generally can also speak to a trained pharmacist at a Tesco Pharmacy.
Alternatively, people can find out more and access the Diabetes UK Know Your Risk tool at: riskscore.diabetes.org.uk/tesco
