Free diabetes tests on offer at Sailmakers Shopping Centre in Ipswich on December 7

A campaign to boost the health of Ipswich shoppers is proving so popular it’s being extended to include a special diabetes screening day.

OneLife Suffolk has been in residence at a pop-up shop in the town’s Sailmakers Shopping Centre for more than a month carrying out health checks on people aged 40 to 74.

On Thursday, December 7 from 10am to 7pm, the team is to offer 100 free blood glucose tests – each taking just five minutes and involving a single finger-tip pin-prick.

These will be delivered on a first come, first served basis.

Laura Beale, of OneLife Suffolk, said: “The test on Thursday will help identify risk factors relating to type 2 diabetes which is one of the fastest-growing health issues of our time and one that could be prevented or delayed by making some simple lifestyle changes.

“What’s more we can also give advice on how to make these changes and signpost people to services to help them and we can do it on the day – they won’t have to wait long for the results.”

So far the health checks carried out at Sailmakers have found 44 people with raised blood pressure, 100 with raised cholesterol, four with diabetes or pre-diabetes and 67 with an increased risk of developing heart disease in the next 10 years.

In addition, 121 people have been referred to their GP for further tests.