What action are we calling for to reduce and prevent type 2 diabetes?
Action from Government, the food and drink industry and others to make our societies healthier and address the root causes of ill health
Making sure that people at high risk of type 2 diabetes are identified of and that there are programmes in place to reduce that risk
Help people to know their own risk of developing type 2 diabetes and how to reduce this risk
Nutrition labelling
Diabetes is one of the fastest growing and most potentially devastating conditions. The number of people diagnosed with diabetes has doubled over the last 15 years. This crisis shows no signs of slowing.
Whilst type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented, a major risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes is living with overweight or obesity. Reducing the number of people in the UK who are living with overweight or obesity would reduce the number of people developing type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes in the future. We know that this is complex and a range of interventions will be required to address the underlying causes of obesity, type 2 and gestational diabetes, including addressing the social determinants of health.
There are nearly 2.4 million people in England at high risk of type 2 diabetes. There is evidence that individuals who are at high risk of type 2 diabetes can reduce that risk and avoid onset of the condition, through targeted interventions such as the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme in England. It is important these people are identified and referred to such programmes.
