Does this tool diagnose diabetes?

No. This is an educational awareness tool only. It estimates future risk and does not diagnose diabetes. A proper diagnosis requires blood tests (FBS, HbA1c or OGTT) interpreted by a doctor. Please see your doctor if you are concerned about diabetes.

How do I measure waist circumference correctly?

Stand relaxed and upright. Place a soft measuring tape around your abdomen at the level of your belly button (navel). Make sure the tape is horizontal, not pulled tight, and not too loose. Read the measurement while breathing out normally. Do not hold your breath or suck in your abdomen.

What counts as previous high blood sugar?

Answer Yes if you have ever been told by a doctor or health professional that your blood sugar was elevated. This includes: high fasting blood sugar (FBS), high HbA1c value, prediabetes diagnosis, or gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy).

I scored high — what should I do?

A high score does not mean you have diabetes. It means your risk factors suggest an increased likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes in the future. You should discuss your result with a doctor, get a fasting blood sugar (FBS) or HbA1c test, and focus on lifestyle changes such as achieving a healthy weight, increasing physical activity and eating a balanced diet.

🩺 Health Tools · Diabetes Risk

Type 2 Diabetes Risk Calculator

Q: Why is there a note about South Asians?

South Asians (including Sri Lankans, Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis) tend to develop type 2 diabetes at lower body weight and waist circumference values compared to some Western populations. This is because South Asians have a higher proportion of abdominal fat relative to overall body weight, which increases insulin resistance. Standard waist circumference thresholds may underestimate risk in South Asians.

Estimate your future diabetes risk using common lifestyle and metabolic risk factors. FINDRISC-style scoring. Free and doctor-reviewed.

🩺 What does this tool do?

This tool estimates your future risk of developing type 2 diabetes using common risk factors — similar to the Finnish FINDRISC approach used internationally.

This tool does not diagnose diabetes. It is for education and awareness only — to help you understand your risk and motivate positive lifestyle changes.

You will need:

Your age and sex
Whether you take blood pressure medicine
Your physical activity level and diet habits
Whether you have had high blood sugar readings in the past
Your family history of diabetes
Your height, weight and waist circumference

SuitabilityBasic InfoLifestyleMeasurementsYour Result

Can this calculator be used for you?

Please answer these questions before we begin.

Have you already been diagnosed with diabetes by a doctor?

No Yes Not sure

⛔ This calculator is not for you

This tool estimates future risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Since you already have diabetes, this calculator is not appropriate for you.

You may instead benefit from:

HbA1c Report Reader — interpret your diabetes control
FBS Reports Reader — understand your fasting blood sugar
Consulting your doctor about diabetes management

Note

If you are unsure whether you have been diagnosed with diabetes, please confirm with your doctor before relying on this result.

Are you currently pregnant?

No Yes

⛔ This calculator is not designed for pregnancy

This calculator is not designed for pregnancy-related diabetes risk assessment.

Please discuss gestational diabetes screening with your doctor or midwife.

⚠️ Important — current symptoms

This tool estimates long-term future diabetes risk. If you currently have symptoms such as:

excessive thirst
frequent urination
unexplained weight loss
vomiting or severe tiredness
very high blood sugar

please seek medical advice rather than relying on this calculator.

Basic Information

Enter your age and select your sex. These are used in the risk calculation.

Your Age (years)

Enter your age in completed years.

Please enter a valid age between 18 and 120.

Age note

This calculator is mainly intended for adults aged 18 and above. Diabetes risk assessment in children and adolescents may require different medical evaluation.

Age note

This calculator is less validated above 79 years. Medical interpretation is recommended.

Your Sex

Used to apply the correct waist circumference thresholds.

Male Female

Body Measurements

Enter your height, weight and waist circumference. BMI will be calculated automatically.

Height (cm)

Please enter a valid height (50–250 cm).

Weight (kg)

Please enter a valid weight (10–400 kg).

Waist Circumference (cm)

How to measure: Stand relaxed and upright. Measure around the abdomen at the level of the belly button. Keep the tape horizontal — do not pull it tightly. Read the value while breathing out normally.

Please enter a valid waist circumference (30–250 cm).

Your Diabetes Risk Result

🌏 Note for South Asians

South Asians (including Sri Lankans) may develop diabetes at lower BMI and waist circumference values than some Western populations. Standard thresholds may underestimate risk in South Asians.

Your Diabetes Risk Score

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out of 26

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⚠️ Medical Disclaimer

This tool provides educational information only and does not diagnose diabetes or replace professional medical advice. A diagnosis of diabetes requires blood testing by a qualified health professional.

Medically Reviewed By

Dr. Seneth Gajasinghe

MBBS (Col) · MD (Col) · SLMC No. 27329

This tool estimates future diabetes risk for educational purposes. It does not diagnose diabetes. A blood test is required for a proper diagnosis.

Visit Sineth Hospitals →

Concerned About Your Diabetes Risk?

Sineth Hospitals — Rattanapitiya, Boralasgamuwa

Get a full diabetes risk assessment including fasting blood sugar (FBS), HbA1c and metabolic panel. Our doctors can guide you on prevention, lifestyle changes and treatment if needed.

Visit Sineth Hospitals →

Understanding Your Type 2 Diabetes Risk Score

This calculator uses a FINDRISC-style approach — a validated method used internationally to identify people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes before it appears.

How is the score calculated?

Points are added for each risk factor present. The total score estimates your future risk category:

Score	Risk Level
Less than 7	Low risk
7 – 11	Slightly elevated risk
12 – 14	Moderate risk
15 – 20	High risk
More than 20	Very high risk

What risk factors are scored?

Risk Factor	Points
Age 45–54 years	+2
Age 55–64 years	+3
Age 65 years or older	+4
BMI 25–30 (overweight)	+1
BMI above 30 (obese)	+3
Waist ≥ 94 cm (male) or ≥ 80 cm (female)	+3
Waist > 102 cm (male) or > 88 cm (female)	+4
No regular physical activity	+2
Does not eat vegetables, fruits or high-fibre foods daily	+1
Currently on blood pressure medication	+2
Previously told blood sugar was high	+5
Extended family member with diabetes	+3
First-degree relative (parent / sibling / child) with diabetes	+5

A note for South Asians

South Asians — including Sri Lankans, Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis — tend to develop type 2 diabetes at lower BMI and waist circumference values compared to some Western populations. This is because South Asians have a higher proportion of abdominal (visceral) fat relative to overall body weight, which increases insulin resistance. The standard FINDRISC waist thresholds (94/102 cm for men; 80/88 cm for women) may underestimate risk in South Asians.

What should I do if I score high?

A high score does not mean you have diabetes — it means your risk factors suggest a higher likelihood of developing it in the future. The most effective steps are: achieving a healthy body weight, increasing physical activity to at least 150 minutes per week, eating a balanced diet rich in vegetables and low in refined carbohydrates, stopping smoking if you smoke, and controlling blood pressure. A fasting blood sugar (FBS) or HbA1c blood test can tell you whether you already have prediabetes or diabetes.

Limitations of this tool

This is a simplified educational tool based on the FINDRISC framework. It cannot account for your full medical history, ethnicity-specific adjustments, kidney function, other medications, or clinical examination findings. The score is not a clinical diagnosis and must not be used to make treatment decisions. Always discuss your diabetes risk with your doctor.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about type 2 diabetes risk, answered by Sineth Hospitals.

What does this calculator measure? ▼

This calculator estimates your future risk of developing type 2 diabetes using common risk factors: age, body weight (BMI), waist circumference, physical activity, diet, blood pressure treatment, previous high blood sugar readings and family history. It uses a FINDRISC-style scoring approach. It does not diagnose diabetes — only blood tests can do that.

Does a high score mean I have diabetes? ▼

No. A high score means you have more risk factors that are associated with a higher chance of developing type 2 diabetes in the future. It does not mean you currently have diabetes. A blood test — such as fasting blood sugar (FBS) or HbA1c — is required to diagnose diabetes. Please see your doctor if your score is high.

How do I measure waist circumference? ▼

Stand relaxed and upright. Place a soft measuring tape around your abdomen at the level of your belly button (navel). Make sure the tape is horizontal all the way around. Do not pull it tightly — it should sit snugly but not compress your skin. Take the measurement while breathing out normally. Do not hold your breath or suck in your abdomen.

What counts as "previously told blood sugar was high"? ▼

Answer Yes if you have ever been told by a doctor, nurse or health professional that your blood sugar was elevated. This includes: a high fasting blood sugar (FBS) reading, a high HbA1c value, a prediabetes diagnosis, or gestational diabetes (diabetes that occurred during a previous pregnancy). Even if your blood sugar has returned to normal, a previous high reading is still an important risk factor.

Why are South Asians at higher risk? ▼

South Asians — including Sri Lankans, Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis — tend to develop type 2 diabetes at lower body weight and waist measurements compared to people of Western European descent. This is partly because South Asians tend to carry more abdominal (visceral) fat relative to overall body weight, even when BMI appears normal. This abdominal fat increases insulin resistance, which is the key driver of type 2 diabetes. The standard waist circumference thresholds used in this calculator may therefore underestimate risk in South Asians.

Can type 2 diabetes be prevented? ▼

In many cases, yes — or at least delayed significantly. Large clinical trials (including the Diabetes Prevention Program and the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study) have shown that lifestyle changes can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by over 50% in high-risk individuals. The most effective changes are: losing 5–10% of body weight if overweight, increasing physical activity to at least 150 minutes per week, eating a balanced diet rich in vegetables and lower in refined carbohydrates and saturated fats, and stopping smoking. Discuss your personal prevention plan with your doctor.

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Medical Disclaimer

This tool provides educational information only and does not diagnose diabetes or replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider for personalised diabetes risk assessment and management.