NICE recommends regular risk assessments for diabetes in the over 40s

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is stepping up its efforts against diabetes by recommending regular risk assessments.

NICE has said that diabetes checks should be offered across the UK as part of a nationwide campaign to test everyone over the age of 40.

NICE is recommending regular checks for everyone over 40 for the condition

Those of South African, Chinese, African-Caribbean or Black African descent should have regular checks from the age of 25 because they are at higher risk of the condition.

Suggestions include offering checks in health and community services, workplaces, job centres, places of faith and libraries to increase awareness.

People can also be assessed at their GP surgery or community pharmacy, as well as self-assessing online.

This comes after the news that children as young as 7 are being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Parents are being blamed for driving their children to school, feeding them junk food and promoting inactivity.

A recent study of secondary school children in the city showed that 40 per cent were spending four hours or more every evening sitting down.

Christine Coltrell, a diabetes nurse specialist from Warwick, said: “We are even getting children as young as seven with Type 2 diabetes, and that can have devastating long term health consequences.”

“These children end up having heart attacks, or losing a limb, or their sight, in their 30s and 40s.”

Type 2 diabetes is a long-term condition that occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin for it to function properly, or when the body's cells do not use insulin properly. Health insurance does not usually cover diabetes as it is considered a chronic condition.