Update on diabetes prevention programme

NHS England and PHE are starting a major national initiative to prevent illness by unveiling the first ever at-scale National NHS diabetes prevention programme. The programme, which is a joint initiative between NHS England, PHE and Diabetes UK, aims to significantly reduce the four million people in England otherwise expected to have type 2 diabetes by 2025.

The new NHS diabetes prevention programme will initially target up to 10,000 people at a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, with national roll-out thereafter. Seven innovative ‘demonstrator’ sites around the country have been chosen to take part in the initial phase of the programme during which they will see more patients, monitor and test their local programmes help co-design and implement the national programme. They are: Birmingham South and Central CCG, Bradford City CCG, Durham County Council, Herefordshire CCG/LA, Medway CCG/LA, Salford CCG/LA, Southwark and Lambeth Councils and Southwark CCG.

Their local schemes include drives on: weight loss, physical activity, cooking and nutrition, peer support plus telephone and online support from trained professionals. The diabetes ‘demonstrator’ sites will test innovative ways to pinpoint those people who have a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes including, for example, via the NHS Health Check. Further information is available here.