Roadshow offers free diabetes test

Friday 27th April 2012

St Helens residents will be given free diabetes risk assessment tests to find out if they could develop the condition.

The Diabetes UK's Healthy Lifestyle Roadshow will be offering Type 2 diabetes risk assessment tests to members of the public in a bid to prevent more people from developing the condition.

The charity, which cares for, connects with and campaigns on behalf of all people affected by diabetes, will be taking its roadshow to St Helens at Church Square, on April 30 and May 1.

Diabetes UK says that an estimated 2,000 people across Halton and St Helens have Type 2 diabetes but do not know it.

In a bid to tackle this, the event will raise awareness of Type 2 diabetes risk factors, such as being overweight, and promote healthy lifestyle changes.

It will also offer free tests indicating a person's risk of developing the condition in the next 10 years.

If the risk is found to be moderate or high people could be referred to a GP for further tests or advice.

Julie Byron, the charity's North West regional manager, said: "Diabetes is one of the biggest health challenges facing us today. There are 850,000 people at risk of developing the condition in England but what is more frightening is that there are around 2,000 people in Halton and St Helens alone that have Type 2 diabetes but have no idea they do.

"I would urge everyone who can to visit Diabetes UK's Healthy Lifestyle Roadshow. It could be the best thing you ever do for your health."

Anyone unable to attend the Roadshow can assess their risk of diabetes by taking the free test online at http://www.diabetes.org.uk/roadshow/riskscore1.

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