People in the East Midlands are being urged to reduce their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by making some simple changes to their lifestyle ahead of Diabetes Prevention Week, which runs from 10-16 May.

People living with diabetes face a significantly higher risk of dying with COVID-19, with over a quarter of deaths in the East Midlands associated with the condition according to local NHS statistics. However, better management of the condition can help improve control and lead to better outcomes.

Jean Purdy from Nottinghamshire is going from strength to strength as a result of the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.

More than 4.8 million people in the UK have diabetes; this is equal to one in 14 people. Around 90% of people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes, which can be prevented or delayed through being more physically active, eating healthily and managing your weight. The health complications of getting Type 2 diabetes can be serious and life changing – this could be loss of sight, loss of limbs, increased risk of heart disease, stroke & kidney disease.

Black and South Asian people have a higher risk of getting Type 2 diabetes after the age of 25, compared with those from a White background where risk increases after the age of 40.

Anyone at high risk of developing the condition may be eligible to join their local Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, a joint initiative from NHS England and NHS Improvement, Public Health England and Diabetes UK.

The programme supports people to make positive changes to their diet, weight and the amount of physical activity they do – to significantly reduce the risk of developing this disease.

As the first national initiative of its kind in the world, over half a million people have been referred on to the NHS prevention programme. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the programme is being delivered remotely via group video conference, or online through apps and websites. The programme provides personalised support to help people achieve a healthy weight, improve their diet and become more physically active, all together which have been shown to reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Professor Azhar Farooqi, Co-Clinical Director for the Midlands Cardiovascular Disease and Respiratory Network and GP at East Leicester Medical Practice, said:

“COVID-19 has shown us it is vital that people at risk of developing diabetes should act now. There has never been a more crucial time to lose weight, exercise more and eat more healthily.

“Access to trusted information and support is key to helping people manage their diabetes. The highly successful, world-leading NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is helping hundreds of thousands of people take small steps to take control of their own health. In the Midlands, 37,799 people have attended the first session of the programme with an average weight loss of 3.1kg, 6 months after attending the first session.

“It’s very important that you find out if you are at high risk of Type 2 diabetes so you can get support to lower your risk. You may also be eligible to sign up for your free local Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme. If you think you are at risk of type 2 diabetes, would like more information on the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme or have any other concerns related to your health, please visit your GP or request a telephone consultation. You can also complete the Diabetes UK ‘Know Your Risk’ tool (https://riskscore.diabetes.org.uk/start) to register yourself onto a free local Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme session.”

Jean Purdy, aged 75, from Nottinghamshire found out she was pre-diabetic following an annual medication review. As a two-time cancer survivor, she recalled her feelings upon finding out about being pre-diabetic “I was horrified and didn’t know what to do about it.” Jean, a retired teacher, was referred by her GP to the NHS National Diabetes Prevention Programme run by Ingeus.

Jean, who is Chairman of a local Cancer Research Fundraising Group, lost a stone in weight and two inches off her waist thanks to the programme. Jean has also reduced her HbA1c reading to 40 and is no longer pre diabetic. “Now I know what to do to achieve weight loss, I am planning to carry on losing another stone”.

Feeling her “normal self” again and planning to keep it going, Jean expressed with gratitude that “the course not only helped me to go back to normal blood glucose levels, but also helped me to recover from the effects of cancer treatment”.