Over 158,000 people in the Midlands have started a specialist NHS scheme which can prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes, according to new analysis. Of these starters, almost 87,000 were in West Midlands and over 71,000 were in East Midlands.

The NHS’s Healthier You Programme is a clinically proven weight management and lifestyle change initiative, and was one of the world’s first diabetes prevention schemes when it was launched in 2016.

Nine out of 10 people living with diabetes in England have Type 2, which is largely preventable. There are also around two million people in England each year who are vulnerable to developing Type 2 diabetes.

Participants on the nine-month Healthier You Programme receive personalised support, either face-to-face or digitally, on healthier eating, maintaining a healthy weight and keeping physically active.

A review into the programme’s effectiveness by Manchester University found that completing it reduces someone’s chance of developing Type 2 diabetes by 37%, with participants achieving an average weight loss of 3.3kg.

Previous estimates suggest that 5.5 million people in the UK will be living with Type 2 diabetes by 2030.

Each year, the NHS in England typically spends around £10.7 billion on identifying and treating diabetes, according to latest data.

Dr Clare Hambling, National Clinical Director for Diabetes and Obesity at NHS England, said: “This transformative NHS programme is improving the nation’s health and empowering people across England to lead healthier lives, which is fantastic.

“Type 2 diabetes is a growing concern with millions of people affected and, unfortunately, it can increase the risk of major health problems such as heart attack, stroke, amputation, kidney failure and sight loss, as well increasing the risk of certain types of cancer.

“Doing nothing on this major public health challenge is not an option for the NHS, so we will continue to develop and rollout world leading initiatives such as our Heathier You Programme to help people take action to prevent Type 2 diabetes.”

The NHS Healthier You Programme is a flexible preventative health initiative, and can be done either as a face-to-face group service or as a digital service.

People using the digital service get similar support but online and via apps where users can access course content, health coaches, and online peer support groups, and are able to set and monitor goals electronically.

Health Minister, Baroness Merron, said: “Preventing illness before it takes hold is at the heart of our mission to build an NHS fit for the future.

“This programme is proof that with the right support, people can take control of their health and dramatically reduce their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

“Reaching nearly one million participants is a tremendous milestone, but we know there is more to do so we will continue to invest in prevention to transform our NHS.”

People can find out their personal risk score for developing Type 2 diabetes by using the specialist online ‘Know Your Risk’ tool hosted by Diabetes UK, and latest data shows it has been used over 3.3 million times.

Colette Marshall, Chief Executive at Diabetes UK, said: “The NHS Healthier You Diabetes Prevention Programme has a pivotal role to play in tackling the rising number of people developing type 2 diabetes. Diabetes UK is proud to be a partner in this programme which has helped so many people access life-changing support.  

“For those completing the programme, it’s possible to reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by more than a third, in turn helping people avoid the serious complications associated with the condition. The first step is knowing your risk. Diabetes UK’s free, online Know Your Risk tool is a great place to start. By answering a few simple questions, you can find out your personal risk of type 2 diabetes and how to lower it.”

Further information on the Healthier You Programme is available via the NHS England website.