In partnership with Tesco, we surveyed 2,000 people to get an insight into people’s understanding and awareness of diabetes.
Over two thirds (68%) of those surveyed who didn’t have any type of diabetes or prediabetes had not considered their risk of type 2 diabetes, and nearly 1 in 5 couldn’t identify a single risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
There are many symptoms of type 2 diabetes, but we know that eating healthily is one the ways that you can prevent type 2 diabetes from developing.
The people we surveyed said that the biggest blockers to eating more healthily in the last 12 months are the cost of healthy eating (30%) and lack of time to prepare healthy food (22%).
Support to help with healthy eating
We’ve teamed up with Tesco to make eating healthily a little easier. We’ve created a new 3-day meal planner to help people living with or at risk of type 2 diabetes to shop for, and prepare, healthy meals.
We've also put together a simple guide to eating well with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, with advice on eating healthily.
Get support from Tesco pharmacists
This year, we’re reminding people about the Let’s Talk service available at Tesco pharmacies. As part of the Health Charity Partnership, we teamed up with British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research UK to offer specialist training for Tesco pharmacists, so that they can better support anyone at risk of or living with health conditions such as diabetes.
For people living with type 2 diabetes, Tesco pharmacists can help with questions around medication, diet and exercise, emotional wellbeing, and where to get further support.
If you’re concerned about your risk of diabetes, Tesco pharmacists can help you to take our Know Your Risk tool, provide advice on next steps to lower your risk of type 2 diabetes and what to do if your risk is high.
With our survey revealing that more than a quarter of people would prefer to wait and see how health concerns developed, we’re encouraging people not to wait to seek advice, and use the Let’s Talk service while doing their weekly food shop. At Tesco Pharmacy, shoppers can access convenient health advice, rather than waiting for any health concerns to get worse.
Douglas Twenefour, Head of Clinical at Diabetes UK, said:
“With 1 in 5 UK adults now living with diabetes or prediabetes, knowing your risk has never been more important. Type 2 diabetes is a complex condition with many risk factors, but with the right support, it’s possible to lower your risk and, for those with the condition, it’s possible to live well. We are delighted to continue our partnership with Tesco to raise awareness and provide practical tools that can make a real difference in people's lives.”
