Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme To Launch in Leicester to Help Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
Those considered to be at greatest risk of developing Type 2 diabetes across Leicestershire are set to benefit from increased help to avoid the disease.
Type 2 diabetes is one of the UK’s biggest health challenges – there are currently 2.8 million adults with the disease in England, and around 200,000 new diagnoses are made every year.
A new partnership between a leading diabetes research centre and Ingeus UK has been formed to deliver the recently announced Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme across the East Midlands Clinical Network, on behalf of NHS England. The Leicester Diabetes Centre (LDC) is an internationally recognised centre of excellence in diabetes research, education and innovation and Ingeus is a leading provider of health, employment, training and skills services.
The partnership is working jointly with 11 Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and Local Authorities in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, Nottinghamshire and Northamptonshire to provide comprehensive support and prevention services to more than 2,100 people in 2016-17 and 3,200 people in 2017-18 as a first wave site of the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme. Nationally, the landmark prevention programme will, over the next five years, help up to 190,000 people across England who are at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Referrals into the service will start on 22nd July 2016.
If you have a query is in regard to the NHS Healthier You Prevention Programme please contact NDPPAdmin@ingeus.co.uk or call 0800 321 3150.
Dr Yassir Javaid, GP clinical lead for diabetes for the East Midlands Clinical Network said:
“Type 2 diabetes is a big priority area for CCGs in the East Midlands. Like most areas of the country we are seeing an increase in new diagnoses driven by sedentary lifestyle and obesity. The complications of Type 2 diabetes results in huge human, social and financial costs within our locality. CCGs in the East Midlands see the enormous value in preventing diabetes and are therefore rolling out a programme which will increase the identification of patients at high risk of diabetes who can then be signposted to the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.”
Those at risk will participate in a programme aimed at supporting and encouraging healthier lifestyles, with a focus on diet and physical activity. Evidence shows that the programme is effective in achieving sustained behaviour change and reducing the incidence of the disease. Professor Melanie Davies CBE, Professor of Diabetes Medicine at the University of Leicester and based at the Leicester Diabetes Centre, said:
"Type 2 diabetes is one of the most prevalent and costly conditions in the East Midlands, but the most efficient way to address the problem of diabetes and its complications is to prevent it from developing, taking a proactive rather than reactive approach. We are delighted that our research has been used to inform the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme and that research done in our region will be put into practice for the benefit of patients.”
Barry Fletcher, Ingeus’s Chief Operating Officer added:
“Ingeus is delighted to be working alongside the Leicester Diabetes Centre and other health professionals throughout the region to encourage a positive change in public health. Our experience of delivering large-scale programmes in a number of sectors, including health, means we are well placed to make a real difference, and we look forward to supporting those considered to be at greatest risk of Type 2 diabetes.”
Notes to editors
Supporting quote, if required, from Dr Darren Jackson, Board Member and Diabetes Lead for West Leicestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “Type 2 diabetes affects many major organs, including your heart, blood vessels, nerves, eyes and kidneys. The Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme will be implemented in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and provides a real opportunity for people who are at high risk to reduce their risk of developing diabetes.”
For more information on the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme see NHS England press release: https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/qual-clin-lead/diabetes-prevention/
Partnership: Ingeus and Leicester Diabetes Centre (LDC) have formed a unique partnership to deliver the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NHS DPP) combining LDC’s evidence-based expertise with Ingeus’s experience in working with people to make positive change through group and one-to-one interventions across training, employment and health programmes.
Ingeus: Ingeus is all about people. A founding B-corporation in the UK, we take pride in only delivering services that make a genuine difference to people's lives, including employment and health programmes, services for young people, training and skills support, and rehabilitation services.
Leicester Diabetes Centre: The Leicester Diabetes Centre is an international centre of excellence in diabetes research, education and innovation and is led by Professor Melanie Davies and Professor Kamlesh Khunti. For further details, to arrange an interview or more photographs, email oliver.jelley@ojpr.co.uk or call 07803 003811 or 01604 882342.