More than 1,200 people visited Diabetes UK’s Measure Up Roadshow during its tour of Welsh towns and cities throughout 2009.

More than 1,200 people visited the leading health charity’s roadshow during its tour of 10 locations across Wales between June and December.

The roadshow visited festivals, shows and supermarkets as part of the six-month tour.

It spent two days in Swansea, Cardiff, Fishguard, Anglesey, Abergavenny, Dolgellau, Pwllheli, Aberystwyth, Aberdare and Newport.

During 2010, it will visit 14 locations across Wales and will offer free Type 2 diabetes risk assessments at every stop.

The roadshow encouraged people to measure their waistline to see if they are at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Having a larger waist means you are up to 12 times more likely to get the condition.

At risk waist measurements are 37 inches or more for men, or 35 for South Asian men, and 31.5 inches or more for women.

During the roadshow’s tour, Diabetes UK staff were also on hand to give out more information about the condition and advice about other risk factors for developing Type 2 diabetes.

These include being aged over 40, or 25 for people from black or South Asian backgrounds, being overweight, having high blood pressure and having a close family history of the condition.

More than 131,000 people have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in Wales and another 45,000 people may have the condition but not yet know it.

If untreated, diabetes can lead to devastating complications such as heart disease, stroke, visual problems, amputation and kidney disease.

Type 2 diabetes can be undetected for 10 years or more, meaning half of people already have complications by the time they are diagnosed.

Dai Williams, the Diabetes UK Cymru National Director, said: “Diabetes is rising rapidly in Wales and is one of the biggest health challenges facing us today.

“It’s frightening that there are around 45,000 people in Wales who may have Type 2 diabetes but have no idea they do.

“I would like to thank everyone who visited the Measure Up Roadshow during its tour of Wales.

“We are looking forward to taking the roadshow on the road again in 2010 and would urge everyone to visit.”

For more information about Type 2 diabetes risk factors or about the condition in general, call 029 2066 8276 or email wales@diabetes.org.uk .

You can also visit www.diabetes.org.uk/MeasureUp to find out if you are at risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Details of where the roadshow will be visiting will be available on www.diabetes.org.uk/wales in early 2010.

Diabetes UK would like to thank the HBOS Foundation for its support of the Measure Up Roadshow.