Boots launch free type 2 diabetes risk assessment service

Britons who are worried that they are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes can now get their risk assessed at their local Boots Pharmacy store.
As part of a new health initiative between Boots UK and charity group Diabetes UK, in-store type 2 diabetes risk assessments are now being offered free of charge to customers who may be concerned about the threat of the metabolic disorder, which affects more than 2 million people in the UK alone.
Available at all Boots Pharmacy stores nationwide, the free diabetes risk assessment is carried out by trained Boots Pharmacy staff and consists of a range of questions based on type 2 diabetes risk factors, including age, waist circumference, body mass index (BMI) and family history of diabetes.
The answers provided are then used to calculate a risk score, which determines whether their risk of developing type 2 diabetes is low, increased, moderate or high.
If a customer has a moderate or high risk, they will be offered personalised advice from a specially trained pharmacist on how to manage and lower their diabetes risk. They will also be advised to book an appointment with their GP for further examination.
The Diabetes Risk Score tool was developed by University of Leicester and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust in collaboration with Diabetes UK, and has been recommended by the 2012 NICE public health guidance on preventing type 2 diabetes.