A HEALTH roadshow in Blackburn shocked 126 residents by telling them they were at danger of developing Type 2 diabetes.

The Know Your Risk roadshow, staged by Diabetes UK, saw 238 people – with 53 per cent referred straight to their doctor for further tests.

A dietitian offered advice on healthy balanced diets and revealed people are more likely to get Type 2 diabetes if they are overweight, if they are of African-Caribbean, African, Chinese or South Asian heritage, if they are over 40, or 25-plus if they are South Asian, or if they have a parent, child, brother or sister with diabetes.

The symptoms include the need to urinate frequently, especially at night, feeling thirsty, feeling very tired and blurred eyesight.

In the UK, there are around 3.8 million people who have diabetes - with 630,000 more unaware they have Type 2 because they haven’t been diagnosed.

Stephen Ryan, Diabetes UK Regional Manager in the North of England, said: “We are very concerned that so many people in Blackburn are at risk of Type 2 diabetes, there are already 9,822 people diagnosed with the condition in Blackburn and Darwen.

“But by finding out their risk of getting Type 2 diabetes, the people of Blackburn have taken the first step towards doing something about it.”

Anyone who was unable to attend the roadshow can find out their risk of Type 2 diabetes at diabetes.org.uk/knowyourrisk.