Over two-thirds (68%) of people without diabetes or prediabetes have never considered their type 2 diabetes risk, a survey by Diabetes UK has suggested.
The survey of 2,000 people, carried out in partnership with Tesco, also found that almost one in five respondents were unable to identify a single risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
While eating healthily is one of the ways type 2 diabetes can be prevented, survey respondents described blockers to doing so over the last 12 months.
Almost a third cited the high cost of healthy eating (30%) and 22% described a lack of time to prepare healthy food.
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How many people have type 2 diabetes in the UK?
Diabetes UK estimates that over 5.8 million people in the UK are living with diabetes and around 90% of people with a diagnosis have type 2 diabetes.
Data from the charity also suggests that almost 1.3 million people could be living in the UK with type 2 diabetes who are not yet diagnosed with the condition.
Beyond this, an estimated 6.3 million people are at an increased risk of type 2 diabetes in the UK, based on blood sugar levels.
Overall, Diabetes UK estimates that 12.1 million adults in the UK are living with diabetes or prediabetes.
What are the risk factors for type 2 diabetes?
Risk factors for diabetes can include family history and ethnicity, as well as being overweight or living with obesity.
Other factors including income, education, housing, access to healthy food and poor healthcare access have also been shown to link to an increased risk of developing several health conditions, including obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Research has also shown that combined lifestyle interventions, including physical activity and sustained weight loss can help reduce the risk of diabetes by about 50%.
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Giving healthy food and meal-planning advice
Diabetes UK have partnered with Tesco to create a three-day meal planner to try and make it easier for people living with, or at risk of, type 2 diabetes to shop for, and prepare, healthy meals.
The partners have also produced a meal guide to eating well with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes.
The guide provides tips for managing type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, including advice on reducing sugar intake, understanding appropriate portion sizes and finding cheaper healthy food options.
Douglas Twenefour, head of clinical at Diabetes UK, said understanding an individual’s diabetes risk ‘has never been more important’.
‘Type 2 diabetes is a complex condition with many risk factors, but with the right support, it’s possible to lower your risk and, for those with the condition, it’s possible to live well,’ he said.
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‘We are delighted to continue our partnership with Tesco to raise awareness and provide practical tools that can make a real difference in people’s lives.’