To mark World Diabetes Day on November 14th, new research has been released and it shows that despite a stream of advice to eat healthily and exercise, there is still around a third of the nation that doesn't exercise at all, perhaps more alarming is two thirds of Britons admit they fail to eat a healthy balanced diet.
Diabetes is one of the UK's biggest public health concerns and with 3.2 million people suffering from Diabetes and a further 630,000 estimated to have the condition, experts are urging people to take a look at whether their current lifestyle could put them at risk.
The study is a real wake-up call and underscores the importance of intrinsic behaviour change in tackling the country's Diabetes epidemic.
The report, commissioned by Noom, whose Noom Coach app helps users adopt healthier eating habits, found that only a third (31%) of people eat at least three portions of fruit and vegetables a day, while one in seven admit they eat what they want, when they want, and don't consider health a priority when it comes to decisions on food.
Almost 40% surveyed say they would only be encouraged to have a healthier, more balanced diet, and exercise more regularly, if they had a health scare or warning from their GP.
The study also surveyed people currently living with diabetes and found that one in four sufferers said that regularly visiting their GP for medicines can be inconvenient, while around one in five believe they know more about diabetes than their GP.
Furthermore, with only one in three people able to secure a same-day GP appointment and over one in five having to wait over a week to see their GP there is increasing pressure being put on the country's NHS and this strain is set to continue with a threat of cuts to social care.
Mobile technology could help alleviate pressures on the healthcare system by encouraging behaviour changes that prevent avoidable diseases. The use of technology in healthcare, including solutions such as Noom's behaviour change platform, is paving the way for healthcare practitioners and offering alternative solutions to reduce the strain.
In support of World Diabetes Day, Noom has teamed up with Dr Rob Hicks to offer advice on being able to spot the warning signs that indicate that you could be at risk. For more information and to find out how GPs and sufferers can prevent the condition there is a dedicated information page here.
Susanne Wechsler, CEO Noom Europe says "The study has identified some really interesting trends; the findings are a wake-up call for Britons to start changing their behaviours. It's worrying that so many people are currently living with diabetes unknowingly and that so many people are still not active."
"The UK's healthcare system is being put under continual strain and as preventative diseases grow, more pressure is added. Our report found that a quarter (24%) of those with diabetes say that they often worry about how to manage their condition, while one in five said they would prefer to receive practical advice from other diabetes sufferers."
"We are urging healthcare providers to look at technology solutions, which can support, coach and advise patients outside of the waiting room. The Noom platform is an example of extending that contact with patients into their everyday lives."
Noom's suite of app encourage users to follow a prevention program that includes daily tasks, short-form education content, food logging, exercise-logging and group support.
Solutions like this can help people make healthy choices to effectively avoid or manage preventable diseases - so we are also urging patients to install apps like Noom and to ask their doctor about mobile healthcare options at their next visit.
For more information on diabetes and advice on the symptoms to look out for, visit www.noom.com/diabetes
The nation is at risk due to poor lifestyle habits