Tasty way to tackle diabetes...

Anyone who is at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes can refer themselves to a free nine-month NHS diabetes prevention programme, thanks to a groundbreaking partnership between the NHS and WW.

WW is an official NHS partner in helping to tackle Britain’s growing type 2 diabetes epidemic after being selected in 2019 to receive patients under the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, or NHS DPP.

Previously, only GPs could refer people at risk to participate in the scheme. However, referrals by healthcare professionals have dropped significantly due to a reduction in people visiting GPs.

now, a self-referral tool on the WW website allows anyone at risk to sign up to the programme to help them reduce their chances of developing type 2 diabetes.

The condition is one of our nation’s biggest challenges, but evidence proves that it can be delayed or even reversed through improved diet, weight loss and increased exercise.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease, and about 3.5 million Britons are already living with it.

Complications can lead to loss of sight, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke and limb amputations. Doctors also estimate 12.3 million more people in the UK have raised blood sugar levels, putting them at a higher risk of fullblown diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is associated with being overweight, with obesity estimated to be responsible for 80-85 per cent of an individual’s risk of developing the condition ‘The growing obesity epidemic and the associated increase in type 2 diabetes are a public health crisis,’ says Jo Measures, head of health solutions at WW. ‘We are proud to be appointed as a provider of the Healthier you: nHS Diabetes Prevention Programme to help tackle one of the most significant public health challenges of our time.’

The nine-month Healthier you programme, in partnership with WW, provides crucial help and guidance for those at risk and is currently being offered in england over telephone, video conference or online.

WW is clinically proven to support weight loss while building healthier habits, including healthy eating, physical activity and developing a helpful mindset.

‘A new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is made every two minutes in the UK,’ says Jo.

‘It’s absolutely within our power to reduce the risk with proven approaches and our studies have shown how to implement prevention of type 2 diabetes in the real world, and offer liveable programmes with real impact. ‘WW has demonstrated how making lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, with many of our members joining for this very reason.’

The Healthier you: nHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is a collaboration between nHS england, Public Health england and Diabetes UK and is the largest programme of its type in the world. To find out if you are at risk of type 2 diabetes, visit ww.com/ uk/ diabetes-risk-assessment