People in the West 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.

Paul Clemson from Telford gives the thumbs up to the NHS Diabetes Prevention programme. At the start of the programme Paul was 16 stone 7lb but now he weighs 13 stone 10lb.

People living with diabetes face a significantly higher risk of dying with COVID-19, with a third of deaths in the West 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.

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 Vinod Patel, Clinical Director Diabetes NHS England & NHS Improvement in the Midlands, 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.”

Paul Clemson, aged 57 from Telford, was referred by his GP on to his local Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme run by Living Well Taking Control. “When I found out that the programme was being delivered remotely, I felt very safe as I knew I did not have to leave the house to attend. In this current climate, I thought it was a great option,” said Paul. “Before the programme I did not know about what I was eating, and I was eating the wrong things without realising it. It took being on the course to realise what we were doing. I have been doing the course with my partner and she has done well too, she has lost 5 stone and is walking even more than me!”

“I had a suit measured for my daughter’s wedding 2 years ago and was measured for 41-inch waist trousers, I am now wearing 34-inch trousers. Thankfully, I had not thrown my old clothes away so still had clothes that I can fit into! There is a local monument about 3 miles away and we try to walk there every weekend, and we try to do 10,000 steps every day. I hit that most days, it is very rare if I do not get to 10,000 steps now. It is a good programme. It made me change the way I think about living my life. I am very glad that the programme found me.”