DIABETES UK is seeking Redditch volunteers to help find over 87,000 West Midlands people threatened by undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes.

It is recruiting volunteers to help assess the public for their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and raise awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle.   

Risk assessments are carried out at The Healthy Lifestyle Roadshows and are supported by money raised from the Bupa Great Run series, for which Diabetes UK is the nominated charity partner.

Last year, 1,682 people were assessed at West Midlands roadshows and 951 were referred to GPs after being identified as being at moderate or high risk.

For those who have the condition and do not know it, being referred to their GP can be an important step to getting an early diagnosis and access to treatment and care. 

Diabetes can lead to health complications including heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and amputation. Half of people with Type 2 diabetes will show signs of some complications by the time they are diagnosed, but risks of developing these can be reduced by being seen by a doctor as early as possible.

Volunteers will be given training for the role once they have committed to attending one or more of the roadshow events in the West Midlands.

Events will take place over the summer and autumn and risk assessors are needed for roadshows in Redditch on August 12 and 13 .Training days are held and expenses covered.

Janet Alexander-Hall, Diabetes UK volunteer development officer, said: “Risk assessments are a vital part of our work to encourage early diagnosis in order to help people avoid the devastating consequences of undiagnosed diabetes and target those at risk.”

For more details on volunteering, email Midlands@diabetes.org.uk or call Roy Bustin on 01922 614500.  For more information on the roadshows, see www.diabetes.org.uk.