People in Walsall are being invited to take up a free health check during Diabetes Week (10-16 June) and assess their risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes is a condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high.
A mobile testing bus will be at four locations across the Black Country offering free health checks.
No appointment is required and it will be available from 9am-5pm (times may vary by location). People are advised to arrive no later than 4pm:
Tomorrow, Tuesday 11 June Black Country Family Practice, Neptune Health Park, Sedgley Rd, Tipton DY4 8PX
Thursday 13 June Bentley Bridge Car Park, Main Block (towards Cineworld), Wolverhampton, WV1 1BP
Friday 14 June Tesco Car Park, Marston Road, Wolverhampton, WV2 4NJ
Wednesday 19 June Dudley Market Place, Dudley, DY1 1JP
People can chat about their risk of type 2 diabetes with a clinician or have a finger prick blood test for early signs of diabetes.
Blood pressure checks, body mass index (BMI) checks and cholesterol testing is also available, all of which can be early indicators of developing type 2 diabetes.
Depending on the results of tests or a person’s risk based on their conversation, they can be signposted to appropriate sources of help or to a healthcare professional.
Dr Ananta Dave, Chief Medical Officer for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, said: “For anyone looking to find out more information about type 2 diabetes or those who may be concerned they are at risk, please pop to the mobile testing van – it will be well worth a trip.”
Type 1 diabetes is rarer, caused by genetic or environmental factors, and can’t be prevented. People with type 1 require regular insulin injections for life to keep blood glucose levels under control.
Type 2 diabetes, however, is often linked to being overweight or inactive, or a family history of type 2, and the health implications can be serious and life changing.
The first step to preventing type 2 diabetes is finding out what a person’s risk is. This link The Know Your Risk tool from Diabetes UK can also help. For more information, visit the Healthier You website.