In the South East region, a programme board has been established with the aim of preventing those at highest risk of Type 2 diabetes from getting the illness. The intention is to enrol patients into a diabetes prevention programme being rolled out across the country.

The programme is initially targeting up to 10,000 people at a high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Seven innovative demonstrator sites around the country have been chosen to take part in the first phase of the two to three year programme. They will monitor and test innovative local programmes to prevent Type 2 diabetes and the findings will be incorporated into the design and implementation of the national programme.

It is estimated that five million people in England are at high risk of type 2 diabetes.