WIREDGOV

Up to 100,000 people in England will be offered places on the world’s first nationwide programme to stop them developing Type 2 diabetes.  Healthier You: the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme will start this year with a first wave of 27 areas covering 26m people, half of the population, and making up to 20,000 places available.  This will roll out to the whole country by 2020 with an expected 100,000 referrals available each year after.

Those referred will get tailored, personalised help to reduce their risk of Type 2 diabetes including education on healthy eating & lifestyle, help to lose weight and bespoke physical exercise programmes, all of which together have been proven to reduce the risk of developing the disease.

There are currently 2.6m people with Type 2 diabetes in England with around 200,000 new diagnoses every year.  While Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented and is not linked to lifestyle, Type 2 diabetes is largely preventable through lifestyle changes.  1 in 6 of all people in hospital have diabetes – while diabetes is often not the reason for admission, they often need a longer stay in hospital, are more likely to be re-admitted and their risk of dying is higher.

NHS England:  Thousands to benefit as first wave of NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme national rollout is announced

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