A leading charity partnership is urging Isle of Wight men aged 40 and under to take a free and simple check to understand their risk of type 2 diabetes.
Research from Diabetes UK and Tesco for this Diabetes Prevention Week (22-28 May) has revealed that many men under 40 are most likely to be spurred into improving their health by a health scare or if a health professional such as a GP says they need to1.
The research also shows that the signs of having type 2 diabetes are not always obvious, so it’s vital for younger men to know their risk in order to avoid the condition.
The condition is known to have more severe consequences in people under 40 and, without the right treatment and support, it can lead to serious complications that include kidney failure and heart disease.
To help to reduce the number of men with the condition, a free, simple and potentially life-saving assessment to better understand risks of type 2 diabetes can be carried out at any Tesco Pharmacy or by going online.
Anyone on the Island who completes an assessment will be directed to free advice and information about the help available to manage their risk.
Chris Askew OBE, Chief Executive at Diabetes UK, said:
“While developing type 2 diabetes isn’t looming large on the minds of most young men, we’re seeing increased numbers of men in this age group developing this serious and life-altering condition.
“Managing your weight, eating healthily and doing more physical activity can all contribute to reducing your risk of getting type 2 diabetes.
"Starting those habits at a younger age can set you up on a healthy path for later life, when we really see people’s risk increase."
Eating more portions of fruit and veg and moving more are two of the ways to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Despite this, the campaign’s survey of 2,000 men found that 82% were eating on average less than five portions of fruit and veg a day, and 86% were getting less than 150 minutes of exercise a week, falling short of recommended healthy levels.
Type 2 diabetes has until recently been quite rare in those aged under 40, so many people – including healthcare professionals – don’t always recognise the symptoms.
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