Test your risk of diabetes

One in ten people in Belgium has diabetes. However, one in three does not know that he or she has the condition. Early recognition of diabetes is important. After all, it can mean that many healthy years of life are still to come. The Diabetes League has developed several tools to calculate your risk of diabetes.

Also read: What are the early symptoms of diabetes?

Various tools

In diabetes type 2, unlike diabetes 1, there are a number of specific risk factors. The Diabetes League provides tools to calculate that risk:

1. FINDRISC test: questionnaire consisting of eight questions. Each answer is given a certain score. If the total score is 12 or higher, then the risk of diabetes type 2 and/or cardiovascular diseases is clearly increased and further examinations by the GP are necessary.
2. On the Diabetes League website you will find a link to the Health Compassan online web application of the Flemish government that measures lifestyle, hereditary factors and (previous) health problems. The health compass also contains a self-test on alcohol consumption and a self-test on smoking behaviorBased on the results, the compass provides personal lifestyle advice and refers to the GP, dietician and other important healthcare providers for the follow-up of the identified risk factors.

Also read: Six golden tips to prevent diabetes

Information sessions on healthy nutrition and exercise

Diabetes type 2 in particular is on the rise. However, this form of diabetes can often be prevented by healthy lifestyle habits. The Diabetes League organizes online information sessions in which exercise experts and dieticians offer valuable tips and insights on the subject. A selection of lifestyle advice for people with diabetes type 2:

• Get enough exercise and avoid sitting still for long periods. Half an hour of exercise a day reduces the risk of diabetes by 30 percent.
• Eat healthy and varied: eat more plant-based than animal-based food in proportion. Make sure you limit highly processed food as much as possible. Drink water in particular.
• Aim for a healthy body weight. If you are obese, a 5 percent reduction in body weight can reduce your risk of diabetes by 30 percent.
• Quit smoking. This helps prevent type 2 diabetes.

Also read: Prediabetes: symptoms and how to reverse it?

Project HALT2Diabetes

The Diabetes League also developed HALT2Diabetesa project with the aim of detecting people with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases using a two-step method. They are then guided towards a healthy lifestyle to tackle this risk. The project consists of the following components:

• As a first step, people aged 45 and over take the digitalised FINDRISC questionnaire. The risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases is calculated automatically. You receive tailored advice and you can immediately forward the results to your GP.
• Do you have a score of 12 or more? Then it is important to make an appointment with your GP as a second step for a fasting blood test to determine your blood sugar level. He will also calculate your risk of cardiovascular disease by, among other things, determining your cholesterol and blood pressure.
• People with a FINDRISC score of more than 12 can be referred by their GP to 'Healthy nutrition on referral' group sessions in the HALT2Diabetes regions to address the increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

Also read: What is gestational diabetes?

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