New scheme to tackle diabetes
West Lothian is involved in a pioneering scheme that will lead the way in tackling Type 2 diabetes amid growing evidence of the link between obesity and an increased risk of complications from Covid-19.
An interagency partnership - led by NHS Lothian, NHS Fife, NHS Borders and the six local authorities in the region, including West Lothian Council - is working together to reduce Type 2 diabetes across the East of Scotland.
Type 2 diabetes has been on the rise across the country for the past decade, having a significant impact on the lives of individuals and health of Scotland’s population as a whole.
Over 62,000 people are living with Type 2 diabetes in the East of Scotland – around five per cent of the total population - and there are over 3700 new cases in the region each year.
Recognising that diet and excess weight is driven by a range of environmental, societal and individual factors, regional health and social care providers have joined forces with stakeholders from the public, third and private sectors to advance sustainable change.
And growing evidence of the link between obesity and an increased risk of complications from Covid-19 has reinforced the importance of this shared vision.
With national investment of £1.46 million in the East of Scotland programme this year, regional director Nicky Waters, said: “Our programme is a priority initiative – reflecting the need for urgent action to reduce the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in Scotland and support people to lead healthy lifestyles. By adopting a Whole Systems Approach and bringing a wide range of partners together, our programme is centred on tackling structural, systemic root causes – such as poverty, inequality and childhood trauma - and the part that we all need to play in addressing them.”
Four core intervention programmes - Get Moving with Counterweight, Type 2 Diabetes Remission through Counterweight Plus, Gestational Diabetes education and Let’s Prevent Diabetes – are being rolled out across the region, with partners taking advantage of technology to support people throughout the pandemic. Over 1900 adults have been referred to Get Moving with Counterweight and the remission programme since October 2019, with 60 patients currently taking part in Counterweight Plus.
Counterweight Plus, a free two- year programme being delivered by specialist NHS dietitians, is based on ground-breaking evidence from the Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT).
Laurie Eyles, one of the newly-appointed professional advisers for diet and healthy weight at the Scottish Government, said: “From delivering targeted interventions, to addressing the widespread issue of weight stigma and tackling the health inequalities which exist across the region - partners are committed to making lasting improvements to the environment in which we live.”
Partners are committed to making lasting improvements