Drive to prevent Type 2 diabetes announced

The NHS will develop the first-ever national Type 2 diabetes prevention programme with Diabetes UK, it was revealed this week. 

NHS England has announced on Friday, December 19, in the Five Year Forward View into Action planning guidance that it will establish a national Type 2 diabetes prevention programme in partnership with Diabetes UK and Public Health England.

The programme will include approaches that build on effective practice and the UK and international evidence base. Diabetes UK says it has the potential to help find the 9.6 million people who are at high risk of Type 2 diabetes in England and ensure they receive targeted support to reduce their risk.

The rise in the condition is fuelling the high rates of diabetes complications such as blindness, amputations and stroke and huge costs to the NHS.  Diabetes UK says it is really important that measures are in place to prevent the condition as 80 per cent of cases of Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by supporting people at high risk to take simple measures to follow a healthy diet and become more active.

The Five Year Forward View into Action guidance states that a national implementation plan for the Type 2 diabetes prevention programme will be published in March 2015. Local groups that have made great strides in developing Type 2 preventative programmes are also being invited to help co-design the programme.

Around 80 per cent of cases of Type 2 diabetes could be delayed or prevented

Barbara Young, Diabetes UK Chief Executive, said: “We are really excited to be working with NHS England and Public Health England on the establishment of England’s first ever national evidence-based Type 2 diabetes prevention programme and applaud its ambition.

“The programme is essential if we are to reduce the numbers of people developing Type 2 diabetes and its devastating complications. Right now 9.6m people in England – 1 in 4 of the adult population – are at high risk of Type 2 diabetes. Around 80 per cent of cases of Type 2 diabetes could be delayed or prevented so it is essential that we have effective support available everywhere for those identified at high risk.

“The rise inType 2 diabetes is disastrous for families and financially crippling for the NHS and the taxpayer so focused and effective prevention programmes must be in place.”