Anyone can develop Type 2 diabetes, but certain factors can increase your risk:

• The older you are, the greater your risk is likely to be. However, those from the ethnic groups outlined below tend to be at risk at a younger age. 
• You’re two to six times more at risk if you have a parent, child, brother or sister with Type 2 diabetes. 
• You’re more likely to get Type 2 diabetes if you’re over 25 and from a Chinese, South Asian, Black Caribbean or Black African ethnic background. 
• You are more at risk of Type 2 diabetes if you are overweight or if you’ve ever had high blood pressure.  

You can’t change some of these risk factors. But others you can.  

If you’re at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, you may be eligible for your free local Healthier You service. This will help you put your health back in your hands by supporting you to lose weight, get more physically active and eat healthy food. Visit https://preventing-diabetes.co.uk/hertfordshire-west-essex/ to find out more.   

Taking action now is really important as it can reduce your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Unchecked, diabetes can lead to sight loss, kidney failure, loss of a limb, and makes you at least twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke. It also puts you at greater risk of becoming very unwell if you catch COVID-19.  The first step is to check your individual risk of developing the disease. The Diabetes UK risk tool can help you find out. It takes just a few minutes to check and could be the most important thing you do today. Visit www.diabetes.org.uk/risk