What is the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NDPP)?
The Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is an initiative that can help patients reduce their chances of getting Type 2 diabetes.
NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), in partnership with NHS England, Public Health England and Diabetes UK, is involved in this national initiative.
The programme is delivered by Living Well Taking Control in Shropshire, which is a leading health services provider.
Why is the programme important?
There are currently 3.4 million 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.
Around 22,000 people with diabetes die early every year. Type 2 diabetes is a leading cause of preventable sight loss in people of working age and is a major contributor to kidney failure, heart attack, and stroke.
How can NDPP help?
The programme is aimed at identifying patients who are at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Referral into the programme can be done through a GP or health care professional which will then begin a nine-month programme which provides personalised action plans and sessions which include advice and options for managing the risk of Type 2 diabetes.
The programme covers healthy eating, lifestyle choices, help to lose weight and information about physical exercise.
These simple measures, as well as more awareness of the causes of Type 2 diabetes, could be the difference between having the condition – and avoiding it completely.
Who is the programme aimed at?
To be referred by your GP to the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme you must:
- Be aged 18 years or over
- Not pregnant
- Not have a blood result confirming a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes
- Have had a non-diabetic hyperglycaemia reading within the last 12 months
Who has been helped by the programme?
Shropshire patients Evette Mottram and Ruth Ellis, who were referred onto the programme by their GPs, have both witnessed life changing results.
Evette from Oswestry and Ruth from Weston Rhyn were both at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and were therefore entered onto the programme.
They were given personalised action plans and attended sessions which included advice on managing their risk.
Evette said: “My blood levels showed that I was at very high risk of having Type 2 diabetes, in fact I was practically diabetic. I was referred to the programme and it was such a relief to have someone to simplify all the information and debunk the myths.
“I thought I had a relatively healthy diet because I chose low fat yoghurt, diet drinks and only had chocolate occasionally. However, my group educator pointed out that low fat yoghurt has more sugar in it. It was all there on the label.”
Ruth said: “As part of the programme, you attend a group and learn a lot about Type 2 diabetes, the different effects food has and what lifestyle changes you can make.
“I found it a great incentive as I wanted to prove I could lose weight and get healthier. The group has sparked my willpower, and I’m going to keep going.”
Who to contact for more information
If you are concerned that you may be at risk of Type 2 diabetes all you need to do is speak to your GP or health care professional. Your doctor will be able to check if you are eligible for the programme and can then refer you.
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