NHS England
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Five million people at high risk of Type 2 diabetes, new figures estimate
Five million people in England have blood sugar levels indicating a high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, according to a new report published yesterday.
The Public Health England (PHE) report provides the most up to date estimate of how many people over 16 in England have a high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
It was commissioned by the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NHS DPP) run by NHS England, (PHE) and Diabetes UK, and compiled by PHE’s National Cardiovascular Health Intelligence Network (NCVIN).
The NHS DPP will support people in reducing their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by helping them lose weight, be more active and have a healthier diet. The new estimate further underlines the need to act on Type 2 diabetes, especially as it already results in 22,000 early deaths and costs the NHS £8.8billion every year.
An evidence review was also published yesterday by PHE shows programmes similar to the NHS DPP can be successful in preventing 26% of people at high risk of Type 2 diabetes from going on to develop the condition. People supported by diabetes prevention programmes lose on average 1.57kg more weight than those not on a programme aiming to significantly reduce diabetes risk.
Both reports have shaped what the NHS DPP will offer – at least nine months of information, support, group and one to one sessions on weight loss, physical activity and diet. Practitioners, clinicians, academics and the public are currently being consulted on a proposed outline of the programme. Consultation responses will further inform the programme, with a phased national rollout starting in 2016.
