What FINDRISC measures
Type 2 diabetes develops silently for years. The Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC), developed by Jaana Lindström and Jaakko Tuomilehto in 2003, estimates the chance of developing it within 10 years from eight questions anyone can answer, without a blood test. It is used in screening programs across Europe.
The scoring
| Question | Points |
|---|---|
| Age: under 45 / 45–54 / 55–64 / over 64 | 0 / 2 / 3 / 4 |
| BMI: under 25 / 25–30 / over 30 | 0 / 1 / 3 |
| Waist, men: under 94 cm / 94–102 / over 102 | 0 / 3 / 4 |
| Waist, women: under 80 cm / 80–88 / over 88 | 0 / 3 / 4 |
| Less than 30 minutes of physical activity daily | 2 |
| Not eating vegetables, fruit or berries every day | 1 |
| Ever taken blood pressure medication | 2 |
| Ever had high blood glucose | 5 |
| Diabetes in grandparent, aunt, uncle or cousin / parent, sibling or child | 3 / 5 |
94 cm is about 37 inches, 102 cm about 40 inches, 80 cm about 31.5 inches and 88 cm about 34.5 inches.
Interpreting the total
| Score | Risk | Estimated 10-year risk |
|---|---|---|
| Below 7 | Low | about 1 in 100 |
| 7–11 | Slightly elevated | about 1 in 25 |
| 12–14 | Moderate | about 1 in 6 |
| 15–20 | High | about 1 in 3 |
| Over 20 | Very high | about 1 in 2 |
Worked example
A 52-year-old man (2 points), 5 ft 11 in and 195 lb (BMI 27.2, 1 point), with a 38.5-inch waist (98 cm, 3 points), who is active every day but does not eat vegetables or fruit daily (1 point), with no blood pressure treatment, no history of high glucose and no family history, scores 7. His risk is slightly elevated, about 1 in 25 over 10 years. The waist is the largest modifiable factor here.
Lowering the risk
Large prevention trials in Finland and the US (the Diabetes Prevention Program) showed that losing 5 to 7% of body weight and exercising at least 150 minutes a week reduced the risk of diabetes by about 58% in people with prediabetes. Eating more fiber and less sugar-sweetened drinks and processed meat also helps.
Next steps
With a score of 12 or more, or any history of high blood glucose, ask a doctor for a fasting glucose or HbA1c test. In the US, the American Diabetes Association and the CDC also offer their own short risk tests, and the US Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening adults aged 35 to 70 who are overweight.
This calculator is for general information and education. It is not medical advice and does not replace the judgment of a doctor, nurse or pharmacist who knows the full clinical picture.