1.1 At risk of diabetes

This means that you’re at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in the futur. Doctors sometimes use lots of other different terms to explain having higher than normal blood sugar levels, including:

• prediabetes
• borderline diabetes
• non-diabetic hyperglycemia
• Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG)
• Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT)
• Impaired Glucose Regulation (IGR).

They all mean the same thing. You don’t have Type 2 diabetes at the moment, but you do need to act now to try and avoid it. Your doctor can offer you support to help you reduce your risk, and may refer you to a diabetes prevention programme.

You should have a blood test at least once a year, to keep checking your blood sugar levels. You’ll also have the chance to discuss how you’re getting on with any changes you’ve been making

You can use the risk calculation tool to work out which of the following groups you are in

Low risk

One out of 20 people with low risk will get Type 2 diabetes in the next 10 years.

If your score is low, it means you have a low risk of getting diabetes. This is great, but keep an eye on any changes that could increase your risk in future.

Increased risk

One out of 10 people with increased risk will get Type 2 diabetes in the next 10 years.

If you’re at increased risk, look at where you’re scoring points. Could you reduce your weight or waist size? Making a change now could make a big difference to your health in the future.

Moderate risk

One out of seven people with moderate risk will get Type 2 diabetes in the next 10 years.

You need to talk about your risk with our healthcare team and plan what action you’re going to take. You can’t change some things, but reducing your weight or waist size could reduce your risk.

High risk

One out of three people with high risk will get Type 2 diabetes in the next 10 years.

If you have a high risk, it’s important to take action now to reduce your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. You could have Type 2 diabetes without knowing it, so it’s essential that you make an appointment to have a blood test.

Yes you could still be at risk as you may still have some of the risk factors for Type 2 diabetes. It’s important to check your risk at a later date, especially if something changes that could increase your risk. Your doctor may also ask you to come back for another blood test in the future.

Whatever your level of risk or whatever your test results say, the good news is – you can reduce your risk. You can do this by:

• eating well
• moving more
• losing weight (if you’re overweight).

If you take action now, you could delay or prevent Type 2 diabetes.

It’s important to keep checking your risk regularly, especially if anything changes, like if you’ve put on weight.

You can check your risk again by using the Know Your Risk tool or by booking an appointment with our healthcare team.  And look out for any of the symptoms of diabetes too.

If you’re not sure how often to check your risk of Type 2 diabetes, ask your doctor.

If you have a home blood pressure monitor you can use this to record your reading. You can purchase these from most pharmacies or alternatively source online. Alternatively you can visit our health check room at the surgery and ask to use our machine. You could also check your weight at the same time if you do not have scales at home.