Tesco staff are helping to find an estimated 500 people living in Waltham Forest with undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes.

The supermarket giant has teamed up with Diabetes UK to urge customers to be risk assessed for the disease.

A new analysis conducted by the charity and supermarket company estimates 539 people suffer from the condition but do not know it, equivalent to four per cent of the number of people aware they are living with the condition in the borough.

Roz Rosenblatt, Regional Manager for Diabetes UK in London, said: “We are extremely grateful that Tesco customers and colleagues in Waltham Forest will be raising thousands of pounds for people affected by or at risk of diabetes.

“The work they will be doing over the months ahead will make a real difference, not only because they’ll be helping to identify some of the people in Waltham Forest with undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes, but they’ll also be helping to ensure people get the support and care they need to have the best possible chance of a long and healthy life.”

People in Waltham Forest can find out their risk of Type 2 diabetes by visiting their local Tesco pharmacy, found at www.tesco.com/storeLocator, or by going to www.diabetes.org.uk/tesco.