NHS England, Public Health England and Diabetes UK have teamed up in with leading companies from the tech sector as the battle against obesity and Type 2 diabetes goes digital.

GP surgeries in York, Withernsea, Malton and Hull will be referring people onto the pilot which will see 5,000 people across the country benefiting.

Medical Director for Yorkshire and the Humber, David Black, said: “It is great news that people in this area will be able to benefit from this innovative way to improve their health and reduce the risk of becoming diabetic.”

“Type-two diabetes can often be prevented with weight loss, increased physical activity and changes in diet. This project will help people make positive lifestyle changes and stick to them though a range of digital and on line support, information and guidance.

“The convenience, accessibility and responsiveness of the project will fit well with people’s busy lives and can provide motivation just when it’s needed”

Users will be able to access health coaches and online support groups as well as set and monitor goals electronically. Some patients will also receive wearable technology to help them monitor activity levels and receive motivational messages and prompts, which is being made available on the NHS for the first time.

This online method of receiving support has the potential to have a similar impact to face-to-face interventions – helping bring down high blood sugar levels and in turn prevent or delay onset of Type 2 diabetes.

Heathier You: The NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme was officially launched last year to support people who are at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Those referred on to the face-to-face programme get tailored, personalised help, this includes; education on lifestyle choices, advice on how to reduce weight through healthier eating and bespoke physical activity programmes, which together have been proven to reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

This new pilot offers similar support, assistance and guidance but through the use of the new digital interventions.

Simon Stevens, CEO of NHS England said: “So much else in our lives is now about online social connection and support, and that now needs to be true too for the modern NHS. This new programme is the latest example of how the NHS is now getting practical and getting serious about new ways of supporting people stay healthy.”

Professor Jonathan Valabhji, national clinical director for obesity and diabetes, said: “Tackling obesity and the rising prevalence of Type 2 diabetes are the major public health challenges of our time. By April next year we will be providing the diabetes prevention programme to the whole of England – an evidence-based face-to-face programme that prevents or delays onset of Type 2 diabetes in those at high risk. Through this initiative, we have the potential to establish the effectiveness of digital interventions to do the same, so that the reach of the programme will be even greater.”

Duncan Selbie, chief executive at Public Health England, said: “This breaks new ground to help those at risk of Type 2 diabetes quite literally take their health into their own hands. Many of us use on-the-go digital technology every day and this is a logical next step in diabetes prevention.”
Patients will be recruited over a six month period and they will be given access to the digital products for up to 12 months. The technology being trailed in Yorkshire and the Humber and evaluated includes:

• Liva Healthcare – A dedicated coach pairs up with the user for 12 months starting with a personal face-to-face meeting. Throughout the year the user and the coach have around 26 digital personal coaching sessions and the Liva platform and patient app supports the patient with smart goal setting and plans, lifestyle tracking, video communication and online peer to peer support to encourage participation and lasting lifestyle change.
• OurPath – A six week mobile and desktop digital programme with structured education on healthy eating, sleep, exercise and stress management. Patients also get a set of smart weighing scales, a wearable activity tracker, access to a social support network and a health mentor. After six weeks, users move onto OurPath’s ‘Sustain’ programme, which aims to keep people on track with their health goals for the long term. Individuals can continue to chat to their support group and health mentor, as well as access evidence-based education articles.