Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test (FINDRISC): Your Risk over the Next 10 Years
Type 2 diabetes does not appear overnight: for years before the diagnosis the body sends signs that are easy to measure. FINDRISC is an eight-question questionnaire developed by Finnish doctors and validated on tens of thousands of people across Europe; without a single blood test it estimates your risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the next ten years. It takes a minute, and the answer tells you whether it is enough to keep your habits, whether it is time for tests, or time for an endocrinologist.
FINDRISC type 2 diabetes risk test
Answer all 8 questions; the score and the risk are shown at once.
The result is an informative estimate and does not replace an examination and a doctor's interpretation.
What the test measures and why it is reliable
The eight questions cover what determines risk the most: age, body weight and, more importantly, waist circumference (the fat around the organs is what disturbs the action of insulin), activity, diet, raised blood pressure, previously measured high glucose and diabetes in the family. Each answer carries points, and the total of 0 to 26 places you in one of five risk groups. In the original Finnish study a score of 15 or more identified about three quarters of the people who really did develop diabetes in the following ten years.
The test does not measure sugar and therefore cannot say whether you already have diabetes: only fasting glucose, HbA1c and the glucose tolerance test can. What the test does better than a single test is to see the risk before sugar rises, at a stage when the disease can still be prevented.
How the score is read
| Score | Risk | Probability of diabetes in 10 years | What is recommended |
|---|---|---|---|
| below 7 | low | 1 in 100 | usual check-ups |
| 7 to 11 | slightly elevated | 1 in 25 | activity, diet, yearly glucose check |
| 12 to 14 | moderate | 1 in 6 | glucose, HbA1c, HOMA, a talk with an endocrinologist |
| 15 to 20 | high | 1 in 3 | endocrinologist, prevention plan |
| above 20 | very high | 1 in 2 | endocrinologist in the coming weeks |
What really prevents diabetes
The largest prevention studies, the Finnish DPS and the American DPP, showed that in people with prediabetes a change of lifestyle cuts the risk of diabetes by 58 % in three years, more than any medicine. The recipe from those studies is simple:
- losing 5 to 7 % of body weight (at 90 kg that is 5 to 6 kg), gradually and for good
- at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, for example 30 minutes of brisk walking five times a week
- less saturated fat and fast carbohydrates, more fibre: vegetables, legumes, whole grains
- 7 to 8 hours of sleep, because short sleep on its own raises sugar and appetite
- if you have insulin resistance, treating its cause: thyroid, polycystic ovaries, medicines
The endocrinologist at the Miren Medic polyclinic runs glucose, HbA1c, insulin and lipids alongside the FINDRISC score, calculates the HOMA index and makes a plan that fits your results rather than general advice. The examination needs no referral, the tests are done in our laboratory. Read more about why sugar rises in insulin resistance, and interpret your HbA1c in the HbA1c calculator.
Symptoms that should not wait
The test estimates risk, but if you already have some of the following symptoms, do not wait for the score: book an examination and have glucose and HbA1c done:
- increased thirst and frequent urination, especially at night
- tiredness after meals, sleepiness and an afternoon "fog"
- sudden weight loss without dieting, or the opposite, inability to lose weight despite effort
- blurred vision, slow wound healing, frequent fungal infections
- dark, velvety patches on the neck and armpits (acanthosis nigricans), a sign of insulin resistance
Examination prices
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Endocrinology consultation (Dr Nemanja Nenezić) | 12.000 RSD |
| Endocrinologist consultation (Dr Zorana Đuran) | 7.000 RSD |
| Follow-up consultation (Dr Nenezić) | 10.000 RSD |
Frequently asked questions
What is the FINDRISC test?
The Finnish Diabetes Risk Score for type 2 diabetes, an eight-question questionnaire about age, BMI, waist circumference, activity, diet, blood pressure, previously measured glucose and family history. The score of 0 to 26 estimates the risk over the next ten years. European diabetes associations recommend it as the first step of screening.
Which score is dangerous?
A score of 12 or more means a moderate risk (about 1 in 6) and is a reason for tests; a score of 15 or more means a high risk (1 in 3) and is a reason to see an endocrinologist. A score above 20 carries a risk of about 50 %, and sugar is often already raised.
Can the test detect diabetes?
No. The test estimates risk, and the diagnosis is made by a blood test: fasting glucose of 7.0 mmol/L or more, HbA1c of 6.5 % or more, or glucose of 11.1 mmol/L or more in the tolerance test. A high score is the reason to have those tests done.
Why is waist circumference more important than kilograms?
Because the fat around the internal organs, not the fat under the skin, disturbs the action of insulin the most. Two people of the same weight can have completely different risks if one carries the fat on the belly. The limits are 94 cm for men and 80 cm for women, and the risk is markedly raised above 102 and 88 cm respectively.
How often should the test be repeated?
Once a year, or when one of the factors changes: weight, waist, blood pressure, or if someone in the family is diagnosed with diabetes. With a moderate or high score, more important than repeating the test is having the tests done and making a plan with a doctor.
