Digital diabetes prevention rolled out

Thousands of people who are at risk of Type 2 diabetes will receive digital support to prevent them developing the condition, as part of the Diabetes Prevention Programme.

In pilot schemes, offering convenient, 24/7 access to online advice significantly boosted the numbers taking up the flagship Diabetes Prevention Programme (DPP). In fact, 68 per cent pf patients referred to digital schemes took part compared with around half of those offered face-to-face support.

Now, as part of the NHS Long Term Plan, approximately 40,000 places on NHS England’s flagship Diabetes Prevention Programme will be delivered digitally each year. They will receive: wearable technology that monitors levels of exercise, including apps which allow users to access health coaches and educational content; and online peer support groups, enabling patients the ability to set and monitor goals electronically.

Trials of the digital DPP, involving more than 5,000 people, found that 68 per cent of those using digital support were aged under 65, the average age of digital participants was 58, lower than the age of those using face-to-face interventions (64 years) and that 16 per cent of digital registrations were aged between 18-44 years compared with seven per cent of the same age group who registered for face-to-face support.

Data shows that one in six hospital beds in England are occupied by someone with Type 2 diabetes, which leads to more than 9,000 amputations each year and the NHS spends more than £6 billion annually treating the condition and its complications.

Jonathan Valabhji, NHS national clinical director for diabetes and obesity, said: “The Diabetes Prevention Programme has been a tremendous success for thousands of people already, and this new digital pilot further builds on that success. I’m delighted to see such a positive response among younger working age people, which shows how a digital approach can expand the reach of patients’ services as part of the NHS Long Term Plan.”

Nikki Joule Policy Manager at Diabetes UK, said: “With millions of people in the UK at increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, it’s vital that the NHS England Diabetes Prevention Programme is able to reach as many people as possible.

“This pilot has shown that a digital version of the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme has the potential to encourage a wider range of people to participate. This could be vital in reaching more of the millions of people at risk of Type 2 diabetes, and in helping to reduce the increasing prevalence of the condition. The success of this pilot should lead to the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme’s digital offering being rolled out more widely.”