ALMOST 60 per cent of people tested at a health roadshow event in Bolton town centre could be at risk of diabetes.

The Diabetes UK Healthy Lifestyle roadshow set up in Victoria Square last week and tested 281 people to find out if they are at risk of developing type two diabetes.

Of those, 167 people were referred to their GP for further advice or tests because their risk of diabetes was moderate to high.

Of the 11,000 people tested nationally last year, just over half were referred to their GP.

It is estimated that 2,800 people in Bolton have type two diabetes without being aware of it.

If the condition is not diagnosed early and is left untreated, it can lead to strokes, heart disease, kidney failure and blindness.

Helen Pattie, Diabetes UK regional manager, said: “Diabetes is one of the biggest health challenges facing us today. It’s frightening that there are more than 2,800 people across Bolton alone that have type two diabetes, but have no idea they do. I am pleased the roadshow was able to help people find out if they were at risk of the condition.”

Type two diabetes develops when the body can still make some insulin, but not enough, or when the insulin that is produced does not work properly.

The disease is associated with unhealthy lifestyles, and the roadshow also offered advice on how to make lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet low in fat, salt and sugar and doing regular exercise.

Risk factors for type two diabetes include being overweight or having a large waist, having a close relative with diabetes and being aged over 40, or over 25 in black and south Asian people.

Symptoms include urinating more often, and especially at night, increased thirst, extreme tiredness, unexplained weight loss, genital itching or regular episodes of thrush, slow healing of cuts and wounds and blurred vision.

Anyone who wants to see if they are at risk can do a test online at diabetes.org.uk/ roadshow/riskscore1.