At the end of National Diabetes Week, NHS England has announced 13 new areas of the country are now ready to offer a leading prevention programme for patients at risk of Type 2 diabetes.
Wave 2 of the Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is part of a wider package of measures to support people with diabetes, and those on the cusp of it, to stay fit, well and prevent further deterioration.
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The programme, which is run collaboratively by NHS England, Public Health England and Diabetes UK, was officially launched last year in 27 areas covering 26 million people – almost half of the country.
Figures reveal the programme had just under 50,000 people referred in Wave 1 and more than 18,000 on the programme at the end of April, exceeding the original target set in the NHS Mandate of 10,000 referrals during 2017/18.
Wave 2 areas will cover another 25% of the population, with an estimated 130,000 referrals and up to 50,000 additional places expected to be made available. Funding has also been agreed for another 12 months in the 27 sites currently up and running.
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Chief executive of Public Health England Duncan Selbie said: ‘While more people than ever have the condition, Type 2 diabetes is largely preventable.
‘Our prevention programme is putting people in control of their health – the results from the first year show the programme is already helping thousands of people and reaching those at higher risk.’
The ambition is for the programme to eventually cover the whole of the country and figures could rise to as many as 200,000 referrals and more than 80,000 people on programmes by 2018/19.
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Patients referred on to the programme get tailored, personalised help to reduce risk, including education on healthy eating and lifestyle choices, reducing weight through bespoke physical exercise programmes and portion control, which together have been proven to reduce the risk of developing the disease.
There are nearly 2.5 million adults and children diagnosed with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes in the UK. An additional £42 million of national funding was also announced, which will be used to advance the care and treatment diabetes patients receive this year.