There are over 185,000 people in North West London who are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, we estimate there are another 40,000 who are undiagnosed.
Do you, or someone in your family have any of the risk factors below? Check your own risk now.
Type 2 risk factors
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Age: If you’re over 40 and white, or over 25 and African-Caribbean, Black-African, Arab, Chinese, or South Asian |
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Family history of diabetes: You’re two to six times more likely to get type 2 diabetes if you have a parent, brother, sister, or child with diabetes |
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Weight: You’re more at risk of type 2 diabetes if you’re living with obesity or overweight |
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Waist measurement: Your risk is also increased if you have a high waist measurement |
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Blood pressure: If you've ever had high blood pressure this increases your risk |
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Ethnicity: Type 2 diabetes is two to four times more likely in people of South Asian descent and African-Caribbean or Black African descent |
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Sex: Type 2 diabetes is slightly more common in men than in women |
Other factors that can also increase your risk:
- Smoking: Smoking is associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, and also increases the risk of other health conditions such as heart disease and cancer.
- Gestational diabetes: having been diagnosed with gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) increases your risk of later developing type 2 diabetes around 10-fold.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): PCOS is associated with insulin resistance and therefore higher levels of insulin circulating in the blood.
- Mental health conditions: History of schizophrenia, bipolar illness, or depression, or if you are receiving treatment with anti-psychotic medication.
- Sedentary lifestyle: If you spend long periods of time sitting this can increase your risk of type 2.
- Alcohol: Drinking too much alcohol is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
- Sleep: If you have disturbed sleep for long periods this can be associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
| You can check your risk of developing type 2 diabetes through the Diabetes UK online tool |
| If you or a family member are at high risk of type 2 diabetes you can join the free Healthier You programme and start reversing your risk, today. |
Check if you or a family member are at risk now
Finding out your risk of type 2 diabetes could be a life saving thing to do but it can be simple and quick.
All you need is:
1. Your height
2. Your weight
3. Your waist measurement
So grab the scales and a tape measure and you’re ready.
To calculate your risk score for developing type 2 diabetes you can use this online tool.
Please note: You must be over 18 to use this tool. The results will also not be accurate if you are pregnant. The Know Your Risk tool is not a diagnostic tool. It is designed for people without a current diagnosis of diabetes and is intended to highlight a person's risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the next 10 years.
At high risk of developing type 2 diabetes?
See this page for further information.
Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes?
Visit our sister site Know Diabetes for all of the information you need.
