At the start of Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Week, Newcastle North MP Catherine McKinnell is encouraging constituents to find out the risks, and how to take steps that can help prevent type 2 diabetes.

Last year in the North East 174,000 were diagnosed with diabetes, a 5,000 increase on the year before, and research from Diabetes UK shows that 13.6 million people in the UK are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes UK have joined forces with Public Health England and NHS England to raise awareness of the risks of developing type 2 diabetes and of the steps people can take to reduce their risk. This year it is especially important with research from Diabetes UK showing that people with diabetes are disproportionately affected by COVID-19, with poorer outcomes when contracting the virus.

For Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Week, Diabetes UK have launched their ‘Know Your Risk’ tool which can highlight lifestyle changes that could significantly reduce risk of type 2 diabetes.

Catherine commented “Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Week is really important in highlighting the serious health complications that can develop if Type 2 Diabetes is left untreated.

“With increasing numbers of people in the North East being diagnosed, it is vital to be aware of the serious impact it can have but also of the changes to lifestyle that can be made to significantly reduce the risks.

“Finding out your risk only takes a few minutes using the Diabetes UK Know Your Risk tool – https://riskscore.diabetes.org.uk/start “