Diabetes risk testing has been made available in-store by the Boots pharmacy chain.

Boots, in cooperation with the support group Diabetes Ireland, is offering type 2 diabetes risk assessments. Those found to be at high risk will be referred to their GP to have a diagnostic test for the condition.

Type 2 diabetes usually develops slowly in adulthood. It is progressive and can sometimes be treated with diet and exercise, but more often Type 2 diabetes may require diabetes drugs and/or insulin injections. The other type of diabetes, type 1, tends to occur in childhood or early adulthood, and always needs treatment with insulin injections.

According to Boots, the service will provide personalised advice on how people can take control of their health and manage their type 2 diabetes risk.

According to Kieran O'Leary of Diabetes Ireland, it is estimated that by 2030, there will be 278,850 Irish people with diabetes (7.5% of the population), up from 191,000 (6.1% of the population) today.

"I would encourage customers to avail of the opportunity to assess their risk and where necessary take positive action to help prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes."

The new diabetes risk assessment has been developed to assess a person's risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the next 10 years. Patients answer seven questions related to age, gender, waist circumference, body mass, ethnic background, blood pressure and family history.

It uses a points system to identity if a person is at low, increased, moderate, or high risk of developing diabetes. Based on this score, advice is provided by Boots pharmacists in the form of lifestyle changes and, if necessary, a GP referral.