Almost 300,000 people have opened the tool to check their risk of type 2 diabetes online less than two months after the NHS fast tracked access to its world leading Healthier You Diabetes Prevention Programme.
The latest statistics display that 291, 325 people used the Diabetes UK Know Your Risk tool since the end of July, a 637% surge compared to two months previously.
Access to the programme was increased following new findings that people are twice as likely to die from Covid-19 if they have type 2 diabetes.
Over 5,000 people have now self-referred for support to lose weight and prevent the onset of type 2 and the programme has capacity to support 5,000 people every week.
The NHS is now urging even more people who are at risk to check their risk and sign up.
People can use the online test, hosted by Diabetes UK, to analyse their risk to developing the condition by responding to basic questions including age, weight and ethnicity.
If their score comes back as adequately high, they can refer themselves to a local service for support remotely or online, without having to go through a healthcare professional.
Professor Jonathan Valabhji, NHS National Clinical Director for Diabetes and Obesity said: “The fact that two thirds of our nation live with being overweight or obese coupled with the increased risk of more severe outcomes from coronavirus means that there has never been a better time to lose weight, exercise more and eat more healthily.
“It’s great to see so many people becoming more aware of their personal risk level, but we want to see even more people signing up to the support we have available. It is free and could be life-changing.”
You can access the tool here.
