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Diabetes charity sends ‘at-risk’ patients to GP via online test

Members of the public are being encouraged to take an online test to find out their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, and see their GP if they are labelled at-risk.

The test, run by the charity Diabetes UK, asks the public to insert their waist and height measurements, along with age, weight and ethnicity, before giving them a risk score.

It then tells users noted as having a moderate or high risk that their health is ‘at risk’ and they need to visit their GP surgery ‘as soon as possible to be tested for Type 2 diabetes’.

The online test is being promoted to people living in Humber, Coast and Vale, by local CCGs and care partnerships, as part of diabetes prevention week.

The campaign tells the public that identifying the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes as early as possible is crucial to allow people to make lifestyle changes to lower their risk of developing the condition.

It adds that those considered at risk should speak to their GP about the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme – a Government programme which helps people lose weight and manage their diet, and is set to be doubled to make it available to 200,000 people every year.

Coast and Vale Health and Care Partnership senior responsible officer for Diabetes and NHS North Lincolnshire CCG chief operating officer Alex Seale said: ‘I would encourage people living in the Humber, Coast and Vale area to visit the online test to find out their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes – it takes only a couple of minutes to complete the online test. People in at-risk groups are particularly encouraged to complete the test.

‘If the test indicates a person is at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes they could be eligible for the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme. So far, more than 250,000 people nationally who were on the cusp of developing Type 2 diabetes have been referred to classes which offer advice and support on food, diet and exercise.’

This comes after GPs raised concerns over Public Health England’s online heart age test, which told members of the public to see their GP if they did not know their cholesterol level or blood pressure, and the unnecessary impact it could have on workload.

A recent Pulse investigation looked at the growing focus on prevention within Government policies, such as the long-term plan, and how this could be fuelling overdiagnosis.


          

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