Act now to reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes

• Make an appointment to see your doctor.
• Take along your completed diabetes risk test and information sheet.
• Discuss your score with your doctor. Your doctor or practice nurse may want to work through the diabetes risk test with you to check your score.
• Your doctor may order a fasting blood glucose test to make sure that you do not have diabetes. If you have had this test in the last 12 months you will not need to repeat it.
• The test is ordered because there is a chance that you could already have diabetes. Many people in Australia have diabetes and do not know it. It is very important to find out whether you have diabetes and do something about it.
• Your doctor may order a Glucose Tolerance Test if your glucose test is abnormal. This is like a stress test for diabetes.
• Once you know the result of the fasting blood glucose test, you and your doctor or practice nurse can check your diabetes risk test score (question 7) again.
• If you do not have diabetes and, your risk score is confirmed as being 15 or above, ask your doctor to refer you to a Life! course.
• The Life! Taking action on diabetes is a six-session lifestyle modification course delivered by trained health professionals. It is group based, run locally in your area, and offers support and advice on reducing your risk of type 2 diabetes. Your doctor can refer you to a Life! course by completing the referral form, ticking the 'course' option, and faxing it to 9667 1778.
• The Life! course is not suitable for everyone, so telephone health coaching is offered as an alternative
• Free and convenient service. Your doctor can refer you to Life! telephone coaching by completing the referral form, ticking the 'phone' option, and faxing it to 9667 1778
• If you are found to have diabetes your doctor will organise further follow up and treatment. If you would like more information about diabetes, phone the helpline on 1300 136 588.