HALTON residents are being given greater help in the fight against diabetes thanks to the expansion of a successful NHS scheme.
The Healthier You diabetes prevention programme, which supported 120,000 people nationally last year, has now been rolled out further to help more people in Halton and Warrington.
Residents concerned that they may have diabetes no longer need a blood test to be able to access the scheme, as they simply need to use an online tool which will determine if they are at risk.
They can then contact their local GP practice if necessary via eConsult or phone to sign up to the Healthier You programme.
The aim of the nine to 12-month scheme is to help people at high risk of type-two diabetes make lasting lifestyle changes, including losing weight, eating more healthily and being more active.
Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the service has been delivered by telephone and group video meetings rather than face-to-face.
Michelle Creed, chief nurse for NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups in Halton and Warrington, said: “It has never been more important to make positive changes to your lifestyle to improve your health.
“Type-two diabetes is often linked to being overweight or inactive, or having a family history of the condition.
“It can increase your risk of getting serious problems with your eyes, heart and nerves, and we also know that people with type-two diabetes are twice as likely to die in hospital with Covid-19.
“If you are from a black or south Asian ethnic background, you are at higher risk of developing type-two diabetes and you are at higher risk of developing a serious illness if you contract Covid-19.
“We want to urge people in Halton and Warrington to access the online tool to see if they are at risk, and if they are, to access the range of support available through the Healthier You programme.”
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You can access the diabetes risk tool by visiting stopdiabetes.co.uk/risk-score
If the tool finds you are at risk, you should contact your GP practice by phone or eConsult and ask to be referred to the programme.
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