A NEW survey has found that one in five people in Wales, who have never been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, have made positive changes to their behaviour in the past year to cut their risk of developing the condition.

According to the latest Time to Talk Public Health survey by Public Health Wales, most people in Wales understand that type 2 diabetes is largely preventable, with 45 per cent saying it is very preventable and a further 42 per cent saying it is somewhat preventable.

However, the survey also highlighted that while most people (86 per cent) are aware that being overweight is a risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes, many were not aware of other significant risk factors, such as having gestational diabetes during pregnancy, being of South Asian, Black Caribbean or Black African ethnicity, or having a history of high blood pressure, heart attack or stroke.

The survey found that 75 per cent of people in Wales are interested in using an online tool to learn how at risk they are (33 per cent very interested; 42% fairly interested).

Many people identified the common symptoms of type 2 diabetes, such as fatigue and increased thirst; fewer were aware of other significant symptoms, such as general itching or thrush, unexpected weight loss and slow healing wounds.

David Taylor, Transformation Director, Tackling Diabetes Programme at Public Health Wales, said: “Type 2 diabetes is a serious health condition that can significantly impact quality of life and health outcomes. Unfortunately in Wales, it is one of the fastest growing health conditions our nation is experiencing.

“It is inspiring that people are already changing their behaviour to reduce their risk, and the interest in using an online tool to assess personal level of risk presents a real opportunity for us to work together to reverse this growing number of people being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. It shows that prevention is achievable.

“The evidence is clear: eating well, staying active, and maintaining a healthy weight are your most powerful tools for preventing type 2 diabetes. These don't need to involve dramatic overhauls – small manageable changes can make a real difference. Preventing type 2 diabetes isn’t just about individual choices. We need to make everyday places healthier by improving access to affordable, healthy food and supporting physical activity.

“We want to empower people with the knowledge and practical steps so that they can act. This starts with everyone aged 18 years and over checking their risk status using Diabetes UK’s online tool. If the tool results show that you could be at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, please contact a healthcare professional, as you could be referred to the All Wales Diabetes Prevention Programme for support. Similarly, if you are experiencing symptoms like increased thirst, frequent urination, or slow-healing wounds, please contact a healthcare professional.”

To find out your individual risk of type 2 diabetes and for advice on how to lower it, visit Diabetes UK’s free Know Your Risk tool (www.riskscore.diabetes.org.uk/start) .