Health tools
How the preliminary diabetes risk is calculated
This tool uses a simple risk-factor score (risk score), based on the same idea as commonly used diabetes risk questionnaires. It considers age, excess weight, waist size, family history, blood pressure and exercise.
Risk factor scoring table
| Factor | Criteria | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 35–44 years | 1 |
| Age | 45–59 years | 2 |
| Age | 60 years or over | 3 |
| Body mass index (BMI) | 23.0–24.9 | 1 |
| Body mass index (BMI) | 25.0–29.9 | 2 |
| Body mass index (BMI) | 30 or over | 3 |
| Waist | Men ≥ 90 cm (≈ 35.4 in) / women ≥ 80 cm (≈ 31.5 in) | 2 |
| Waist | 10 cm (≈ 4 in) or more above the cut-off above | 3 |
| Family history | A parent, brother or sister has diabetes | 3 |
| Blood pressure | Has been told they have high blood pressure | 2 |
| Exercise | Does not exercise regularly (< 150 minutes/week) | 2 |
For each factor, only the single highest matching criterion is counted; all the points are then added up.
What the total score means
0–4 points — Low risk
5–8 points — Moderate risk
9 points or more — High risk
How BMI is calculated
BMI = weight (kg) ÷ [height (m)]². The tool uses the cut-offs for Asian populations, under which risk starts from a BMI of 23, unlike the international cut-off, which starts at 25.
If you enter your waist in inches, the system converts it to centimeters using inches × 2.54 before comparing it with the cut-offs.
If you enter your waist in inches, the system converts it to centimeters using inches × 2.54 before comparing it with the cut-offs.
References
- World Health Organization (WHO) — information on diabetes and its risk factors: who.int/diabetes
- WHO — body mass index cut-offs for Asian populations (Asia-Pacific BMI cut-offs)
- International Diabetes Federation (IDF) — waist cut-offs for South Asian/East Asian populations (men ≥ 90 cm, women ≥ 80 cm): idf.org
- American Diabetes Association (ADA) — Standards of Care, section on screening for type 2 diabetes risk: diabetes.org
- WHO — recommendation of at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week
Note: the points in the table are relative weights for preliminary screening only. They are not taken directly from any institution's risk prediction equation, and this is not a diagnosis.