Tag: Diabetes UK

People in Edinburgh encouraged to check their risk of developing type 2 diabetes

  • 7 in ten people (71%) have not checked their risk, with confusion and a lack of awareness preventing people from taking action
  • Of those who have not checked their risk, almost a quarter (24%) do not know how to check, and over a quarter (27%) do not believe they are at risk.
  • Nearly half of Brits (48%) are unaware that they can check their type 2 diabetes risk online through Diabetes UK Know Your Risk Tool.

Tesco and Diabetes UK are encouraging people in Edinburgh to take a simple step towards understanding their health after new UK research revealed that four in ten adults (42%) have never thought about their risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The survey of 2,000 UK adults also found that seven in ten people (71%) have not checked their risk of developing type 2 diabetes, despite the condition affecting millions of people across the UK.

Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition that can lead to life-changing complications, including heart disease, stroke and sight loss if left undiagnosed or unmanaged. However, with the right support, many cases can be prevented or delayed, making early awareness and action particularly important.

The findings suggest many people may be missing opportunities to understand their risk or the support to make changes. Among those who have not checked their risk, more than a quarter (27%) say it is because they do not believe they are at risk, while almost a quarter (24%) say they would not know how to check.

The survey also uncovered confusion about what influences a person’s likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes, with one in five people (21%) saying they do not know enough about type 2 diabetes risk to identify risk factors involved.

Age, ethnicity, family history, weight and other health factors can all affect risk, but only 28% of respondents identified this broader combination of factors.

This reflects wider misconceptions about the condition, with separate CharityTracker data showing that 36% of people believe eating too much sugar is the main cause of diabetes and 37% believe people develop type 2 diabetes because of their lifestyle choices.

Tom Lye, Category Director for Health and Wellness at Tesco, said: “We know that taking steps to understand your health can sometimes feel daunting, which is why we want to make support as accessible as possible.

“Through our partnership with Diabetes UK, we’re encouraging people to use the free Know Your Risk tool to better understand their risk of type 2 diabetes.

“If customers have concerns or questions, our trained pharmacy colleagues are on hand in over 350 Tesco Pharmacies to offer advice and support.”

Douglas Twenefour, Head of Clinical at Diabetes UK, said: “Around 6.9 million people in the UK are at increased risk of type 2 diabetes, but taking small steps can make a big difference.

“Diabetes UK’s free, online Know Your Risk tool can help you understand your risk in just a few minutes, and offers advice on how to reduce it if needed. Through our partnership with Tesco, we’re making it easier for people to access vital information and support in their local communities.”

Although lack of awareness remains the biggest barrier, the survey also suggests that concern and embarrassment may prevent some people from learning more about their risk. Among those who have not checked their risk, 14% say they worry about what the result might be, while around one in ten worry about being judged because of their weight, diet or health behaviours (9%) or feel embarrassed discussing their risk (8%).

There are tools and support out there, but nearly half of UK adults (48%) said they were unaware that they could check their type 2 diabetes risk online or had not heard of the Diabetes UK Know Your Risk Tool.

However, the findings also suggest people are open to getting support in familiar, accessible settings, with 80% saying they would feel comfortable speaking to a pharmacist about their risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

To help people better understand their likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes, Tesco and Diabetes UK are encouraging people to use the free online Diabetes UK Know Your Risk tool.

The simple online assessment takes just a few minutes to complete and can help identify whether someone may be at increased risk of developing the condition, as well as signposting them to further support where appropriate.

Customers who have concerns about their risk, symptoms or diabetes more generally can also speak to a trained pharmacist in store at more than 350 Tesco Pharmacies across the country.

People can find out more and access the Diabetes UK Know Your Risk tool at riskscore.diabetes.org.uk/tesco

Marlene Goncalves, 40, from Shropshire was diagnosed with prediabetes in February 2023 but has since reversed it after taking action to adjust her diet and exercise routines.

Marlene said: “Knowledge is power, and knowing you’re at higher risk of type 2 diabetes is incredibly important in helping to prevent it developing.

“Having that knowledge and knowing you’re at increased risk, will help inform decisions and adopt healthier behaviours that can reduce or even prevent the progression to prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

“My advice to anyone who feels apprehensive or scared about checking their risk is simple: choose to know. While it can feel daunting, the knowledge you gain has the potential to be life-changing.

“Understanding your health and any associated risks is empowering.

“It gives you the opportunity to make informed decisions, take positive action and improve your health.”

Deprivation has a negative impact on the health of people with Type 1 diabetes

  • People with Type 1 diabetes living in more deprived areas of Scotland have higher blood sugar levels, putting them at greater risk of diabetes complications
  • Researchers looked at the health records of everyone living with Type 1 diabetes in Scotland over 12 years
  • Findings highlight the persistent and significant health inequalities disadvantaged people with Type 1 diabetes face

Continue reading Deprivation has a negative impact on the health of people with Type 1 diabetes

Charity giants team up to tackle Scotland’s snacking crisis

A major charity initiative between Diabetes UK, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and Tesco has discovered that snacking habits in Scotland are risking families’ long term health.

A survey commissioned by the National Charity Partnership, a partnership between the three organisations, found that nearly half of all adults in Scotland (45 percent) worry about the extra calories their families consume through unhealthy snacks, yet almost three in ten (29 percent) never actively choose nibbles that are low in fat and sugar. In fact, despite nearly half of those surveyed worrying about snacking habits, more than one-third of Scottish parents are still regularly offering crisps (37 percent) and 45 percent say they offer biscuits as snacks for their children either alongside or in between meals. 

Katherine Hale, Prevention Programme Manager for the National Charity Partnership, said: “Eating foods high in fat and sugar on a regular basis can contribute to increased calorie consumption – which can then increase the likelihood of being overweight. It’s particularly concerning that crisps and biscuits are still popular snacks for children because the food habits we learn at a young age can become ingrained and stay with us into adulthood.

“By developing unhealthy habits, you may be risking your family’s health. Regularly consuming ‘empty calories’ from snacks that contain lots of calories but little to no nutrients heightens your risk of obesity and the long-term conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease associated with this.“

As the summer holidays come to an end and a new school year begins, the National Charity Partnership is launching its Snack Goals Challenge to help UK families start the new term right by making some healthy snack swaps to curb those junk food cravings and improve their long-term health.

The partnership is encouraging people to set a goal to ‘eat healthy snacks’ using its online Eight Week Challenge. To support the challenge, the partnership has developed a series of articles to provide affordable and tasty recipe inspiration at https://lets-dothis.org.uk/tips/topics/snack-well/. Ideas include swapping crisps and biscuits for air-popped popcorn with cinnamon or spicy chilli.

Ms. Hale said: “Snacks are usually small and can seem insignificant. However the reality is that the calories they provide can really add up, especially for children.  By making a change now and taking our Snack Goals Challenge, to swap to healthier snacks it will help you stay on track and kick those bad snacking habits. For even more motivation, take the challenge with the whole family or friends for that extra element of competition.”

The most common reason why people in Scotland shun snacks low in fat, sugar or salt is that it costs too much money (24 percent). Almost one in five people in Scotland (18 percent) said that healthier snacks lack variety and 16 percent of those surveyed claimed their family prefers the taste of snacks like crisps and chocolate. The survey also found that adults in Scotland have a sweet tooth when it comes to snacking choices, with mid-afternoon the most popular time to snack. Four of the top five regularly consumed snacks for adults are sweet and include biscuits (37 percent) and chocolate bars (28 percent).

The National Charity Partnership between Diabetes UK, the BHF and Tesco is working to help millions of people look after their bodies and reduce their risk of Type 2 diabetes and heart and circulatory disease by moving more and eating healthily.

To get involved set your goal at www.lets-dothis.org.uk/challenge and upload your healthy snack ideas on social media using the #snackgoalschallenge.

Hummingbird Ball celebrates fifteen years

champagne glasses
This year’s Hummingbird Ball in aid of Diabetes UK marks 15 years of successful fundraising in the Scottish capital at the event on Saturday 7 November.

Organised by a group of local Diabetes UK volunteers, the Ball has raised over £300,000 for research projects since the inaugural event in 2001.  Diabetes UK is the leading charitable funder of diabetes research which increases understanding of the causes of diabetes, brings about life-changing breakthroughs in care, treatment, prevention and, one day, a cure.

Craig Cameron, one of the event organisers, said:  “When we arranged the first Hummingbird Ball in 2001 we thought it would be a one off event.  No one could have imagined in those early days that we would reach 15 years and raise in excess of £300,000. We are so grateful to everyone who has supported this incredible achievement.”

The 15th Hummingbird Ball takes place at Sheraton Grand Hotel and Spa in Edinburgh on the evening of Saturday 7 November 2015.  A five star black tie event hosted by master of ceremonies, Grant Stott, guests are invited to enjoy a lavish dinner with fabulous entertainment, charity auctions and raffles.

Auction items up for grabs include an evening at the ATP Tennis Finals as well as a weekend hire of a Harley Davidson motorbike. The organising committee is keen to hear from any individuals or companies who wish to donate auction or raffle prizes.

Craig added:  “The Hummingbird Ball is a fantastic night that’s enjoyed by all.  We have already sold many tickets but there are still some available if people would like to join us.  Diabetes is a major health issue which affects over 276,000 people across Scotland including over 37,700 in Lothian.  Diabetes UK is leading the way in cutting edge research, including some ground-breaking projects across Scotland, which will have a positive impact on the lives of people affected by the condition.”

Jane-Claire Judson, National Director of Diabetes Scotland, said:  “The success of the Hummingbird Ball over the past 15 years is truly amazing given that the event is organised entirely by volunteers.  Over £300,000 raised through the event is testament to the volunteers’ commitment to funding Diabetes UK research in Scotland.  It’s a fantastic achievement and we’re truly grateful.”

Tickets for the event, priced at £90 each, are not cheap but for those who can afford to support a very worthy cause tickets can be purchased by contacting Diabetes Scotland office on 0141 245 6380 or email scotlandfundraising@diabetes.org.uk. Prizes can also be donated in this way.