Diabetes Risk Assessment: 8 Questions That Predict Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes Prevention · 5 · March 5, 2026

Type 2 diabetes develops over 10–15 years. Most people find out when fasting glucose crosses 126 — by which time they have lost about 50% of their beta cell function. A 2-minute risk assessment can identify whether you are on that trajectory while there is still time to change it.

Journey for Health's Diabetes Risk Assessment asks 8 questions based on the same factors used in clinical screening tools like the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC):

Age. BMI. Waist circumference. Physical activity level. Daily fruit and vegetable intake. Blood pressure medication history. History of high blood glucose. Family history of diabetes.

Your score falls into four categories: Low (under 7), Moderate (7–11), High (12–14), Very High (15+). Each category generates specific recommendations — not generic wellness advice. A score of 13 gets different guidance than a score of 8.

What the DPP Trial Proved

The Diabetes Prevention Program — the landmark trial that shaped everything we know about diabetes prevention — demonstrated that lifestyle intervention reduced Type 2 incidence by 58% in high-risk individuals. More effective than metformin (31%). The intervention was not radical: 150 minutes of walking per week and 5–7% weight loss. Boring. Consistent. Effective.

Take It Every Quarter

The platform saves your assessment history. Take it every 3 months to see whether your risk is trending up or down. If you have started walking more, eating better, or lost weight, your score should reflect it. That feedback loop — action followed by measurable change — is what keeps people going when motivation fades.

If your score comes back moderate or higher, the next step is a fasting insulin test (ask your doctor) and the Skin Scanner to check for acanthosis nigricans. The earlier you catch insulin resistance, the easier it is to reverse.