Latest figures show that 291,325 people used the Diabetes UK ‘Know Your Risk’ tool to check their risk of type 2 diabetes online since the end of July – a 637 per cent increase compared to the two months prior. This is less than two months after the NHS fast tracked access to its Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.

Access to the programme was boosted following findings that people with type 2 diabetes are twice as likely to die from Covid-19. Over 5,000 people have now self-referred for support to lose weight and prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.

“The fact that two-thirds of our nation live with being overweight or obese coupled with the increased risk of more severe outcomes from coronavirus means that there has never been a better time to lose weight, exercise more and eat more healthily,” said professor Jonathan Valabhji, NHS national clinical director for diabetes and obesity.