Diabetes milestone for Leicester researchers

A method for assessing people’s chances of having or developing Type 2 diabetes created by Leicester researchers has reached a major milestone - one million people have now been through the Know Your Risk section of the Diabetes UK website, which identifies people who may be at high risk of the condition or currently have undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes.

Today is World Health Day, where the theme is diabetes and people are being urged to complete the assessment as part of a national campaign.

The questionnaire uses data on age, sex, waist circumference, BMI, ethnicity, family history of diabetes and high blood pressure. It gives a calculated analysis of an individual’s risk of having or developing the condition. 

The original version is known as Leicester Diabetes Risk Score and was adapted to go online by the charity. The paper version is available in Boots and Tesco.

Professor Kamlesh Khunti, from the University and the Leicester Diabetes Centre, who has led the project, said: “Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition which, if left untreated or poorly managed, can lead to devastating complications such as amputation, blindness, heart attack and stroke.

“This online version of the risk score either can easily identify people who may have diabetes or are at risk and can have the appropriate management plans by their general practitioners to reduce their risk of developing diabetes or its complications.”

To found out your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, visit the website.