Academic: People Who Cannot Fit Into Trousers Worn At 21 At Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes

"Carrying too much fat"

A leading academic warns adults are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, if they can no longer fit into the same trousers they wore when they were 21.

Professor Roy Taylor presented data on a small study, which found “If those of normal weight lose 10-15 per cent of their weight, they have a very good chance of getting rid of their diabetes”.

Prof. Taylor continued “As a rule of thumb, your waist size should be the same now as when you were 21. If you can’t get into the same size trousers now, you are carrying too much fat and therefore at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, even if you aren’t overweight.”

The HSE defines type 2 diabetes as "a condition that causes the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood to become higher than normal."

Diabetes Ireland notes, "According to the Healthy Ireland survey, 854,165 adults over 40 in the Republic of Ireland are at increased risk of developing (or have) Type 2 diabetes."

The organisation continues by saying, it's "estimated that there are over 15,600 people over 80 years of age living with Type 2 diabetes based on the TILDA study which showed a prevalence of 11.9% in the over 75 age group."