In all countries where there are very large numbers of people with Type 2 diabetes there are also large numbers of people at risk of diabetes. These include people with pre-diabetes, so called because they have mildly abnormal blood glucose levels intermediate between normal and the diabetic range.

The high risk group also include people with the metabolic syndrome, these people have a collection of metabolic abnormalities such as with blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure and weight which by definition puts them at risk of diabetes