A nine-month long support programme to aid with weight loss, physical activity and diet will be launched next year as part of the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NHS DPP).
NHS DPP will offer people who are at high risk of developing diabetes at least nine months of information, support, group and one to one sessions on weight loss, physical activity and diet, to be rolled out in England in 2016, after consultation.
This decision comes after PHE research released today revealed that five million people in England are now at a high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, and that people on diabetes prevention programmes lose on average 1.57kg more weight than those who are not.
Duncan Selbie, chief executive of PHE, said: “We know how to lower the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes: lose weight, exercise and eat healthily, but it’s hard to do it alone. PHE’s evidence review shows that supporting people along the way will help them protect their health and that’s what our prevention programme will do.”
Type 2 diabetes currently results in 22,000 early deaths and costs the NHS £8.8 billion every year. PHE evidence highlights success of supportive behaviour change programmes in reducing Type 2 diabetes in at risk groups by 26% on average.
The NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is a joint commitment from NHS England, Public Health England and Diabetes UK, to deliver at scale, an evidence-based behavioural programme to support people to reduce their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
