Type 1 diabetes cannot currently be prevented whereas type 2 diabetes can be prevented.

Robust international evidence has shown that understanding your risk of type 2 diabetes and making some changes to risk factors related to our lifestyle (including what we eat and move) can help prevent type 2 diabetes in up to 58% of cases1. In fact, the latest findings from the U.S Diabetes Prevention Program demonstrated that intensive lifestyle intervention reduced the development of type 2 diabetes by 24% over 21 years and gave 50% of the studies participants in the lifestyle group an extra 3.5 years before they developed the condition2.

Sources: 1Tuomilehto , J., et al., Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus by Changes in Lifestyle among Subjects with Impaired Glucose Tolerance. New England Journal of Medicine, 2001. 344(18): p. 1343-1350; 2Knowler , W.C. et al. April 28, 2025. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology

 

 

If you have multiple modifiable or non-modifiable risk factors, you may be at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the next 5 to 10 years.

Calculate your risk by visiting the visiting the Type 2 diabetes RISK calculator.

If you score 12 or higher on the AUSDRISK calculator, maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active and following a healthy eating plan are some of the ways you can help reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Explore “Prevention programs and services” and “Prevention research” to find out more information about prevent or delay the onset of developing type 2 diabetes.