The worldwide "dramatic" increase in the most common form of diabetes could be reversed if people were persuaded to make simple lifestyle changes, senior doctors said today.
The call came during World Diabetes Day.
European heart specialists published a "simple" questionnaire which they said would help people identify their risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Unlike type 1 diabetes, the type 2 form is linked to lifestyle and obesity.
The questionnaire, published by the European Society of Cardiology, asks about family risk as well as body weight and levels of activity.
Professor Eberhard Standl, from the Munich Diabetes Research Group in Germany, said people newly diagnosed with the disease could reverse it using a crash diet.
He warned: “The dramatic increase of type 2 diabetes worldwide has exceeded expectations. Globally there are 400 million people with type 2 diabetes and a similar number with the pre stages of type 2 diabetes.
"The epidemic seems unstoppable but there is very good and strong evidence that people can stop diabetes with lifestyle changes."
He added: “Many people hardly move during their working day and even during leisure time. To reverse or prevent type 2 diabetes, the goal is 30 minutes of decent physical exercise every day.
"This could be brisk walking, jogging, swimming or cycling and should be combined with muscle training.”
Professor Standl said using whole grain in the diet rather than white flour.
He added: “There is no question that people who have had type 2 diabetes for just a short period of time can reverse it with a low calorie diet. This can be effective within 3 to 5 days. Of course the continuing challenge is to maintain the lower body weight.”
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