Diabetes prevention service opens to Rochdale residents

Type 2 diabetes - know your risk

Residents in the borough of Rochdale are being urged to check their risk of Type 2 diabetes.

The call comes as residents can now sign up to the local Diabetes Prevention Programme themselves without a medical referral.

The first thing you need to do is to find out if you are at risk of developing diabetes by using the online Diabetes UK risk tool. The tool takes a few minutes to complete and asks questions about age, ethnicity and lifestyle which can increase your risk of diabetes:

• https://riskscore.diabetes.org.uk/start

If you are at moderate or high risk, you will be invited to sign up to the local NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme provided by ICS Health and Wellbeing.

The free service provides valuable support to reduce your risk of developing the condition.

Through this service, you will have access to trained health coaches and will be able to meet other people in your area who are also trying to reduce their risk of Type 2 diabetes. From helping you eat well, to tips on weight loss and physical activity, the service is here to support you on your journey.

Support is currently being offered remotely over the telephone, on group video conference via Microsoft Teams and online through apps and websites. There are also language specific groups, such as Punjabi, Urdu, and Polish.

Councillor Sara Rowbotham, cabinet member for health and wellbeing at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The recent months have made many of us stop and think about how important our health is.

“Take a positive step today and use the diabetes risk assessment tool. It is really simple to use and it could help you to get your health back on track.”

If you would prefer to speak to someone you can call the Diabetes Prevention Programme on 0333 577 3010.