Free NHS service could help people reduce risk of type 2 diabetes

A ‘little-known’ NHS tool could help families track their sugar intake to potentially lower their risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and more. According to the NHS, children are consuming over two times more sugar than is recommended.

The NHS says snacks and sugary drinks are the most common culprits, meaning many parents will be interested in tips to help their families make healthier choices. The health service says that consuming too much sugar can impact health, reports the Mirror.

“Too much sugar is bad for children’s health as it can lead to the build-up of harmful fat on the inside that we cannot see,” the NHS warns. “This fat can cause weight gain and serious diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. Having too much sugar can also lead to painful tooth decay – every ten minutes, a child in England has a tooth removed in hospital.”

Added sugar refers to sugar added to food and drink to sweeten them, such as when fruit juice, syrup, or honey is added. It’s different from the natural sugars in plain milk, plain yoghurt, fruit and vegetables, though it’s advised to eat dried fruit with a meal to help protect teeth.

To offer help, the NHS shares information about some foods to watch out for on its website. There’s also a sugar calculator that people can use to check the sugar levels in the food and drink their family eats each day.

The ‘little-known’ tool is primarily for parents, as reflected in the food and drink choices included in the calculator. However, it could be helpful to people of any age.

The sugar calculator asks parents to input all the sugary foods and drinks their children eat throughout the day to show how quickly the total can add up. The NHS explains: “Use our calculator for a quick check on how much sugar is in some of the everyday food and drink your child might have. You’ll be surprised how quickly it can add up!”

The quiz only takes a few minutes to complete. First, the NHS asks parents to input their child’s age. The second question asks parents to explain how often their child eats sugary cereal, split pot yoghurts, sugary cola, sugary milkshakes, juice drinks, cake bars, chocolate biscuits, chocolate pudding pots, chocolate bars, and fun-sized sweets each day.

The NHS points out that some options parents might consider healthy can be high in sugar. For instance, cereal bars tend to include three cubes of sugar, according to the health service.

The quiz shares personalised results, explaining how many sugar cubes are included in a child’s diet compared to the recommended daily maximum. This number varies based on age. The NHS also signposts resources for families, highlighting healthy food swaps.