Type 2 diabetes prevention for those at high risk

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have published an update to the Public Health Guideline on type 2 diabetes. In the UK, there are 3.8 million people living with diabetes, the majority of these have type 2 diabetes. If you have type 2 diabetes you are more at risk of cardiovascular disease such as heart disease and stroke. You are also more likely to have high blood pressue.

NICE have said that people at the highest risk of type 2 diabetes should be offered to attend a intensive lifestyle programme. Lifestyle programmes aim to reduce the prevalence of diabetes by helping people change their lifetsyles with healthier diets and more exercise. The health authority said it is cost effective to offer lifestyle support to those people with a fasting glucose level of between 5.5-6.9mmol/l though priority should be given to those with higher readings.

Director of the centre of guidelines at NICE, Professor Mark Baker said “We know that helping someone to make simple changes to their diet and exercise can significantly reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. And that this approach is a cost-effective way of managing an ilness that currently costs the NHS around £8.8 billion a year. We need to make sure that the people most at risk have access to the care they need. This is why this updated guidance from NICE is so important, it will help NHS England and Publib Health England to prioritise when necessary.”

With currently 5 million people at high risk of type 2 diabetes, the guidance also reaffirms that all adults over 40 should see their GP for a diabetes assessment risk. Adults who are over weight or have conditions such as heart disease are also encouraged to go for an assessment.

The head of care at Diabetes UK, Dan Howarth welcomed the changes, “We know that globally, diabetes prevention prgrammes do work, and we know that with the right advice and support, people at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes can take simple but significant steps to prevent the condition developing.”

To read more about what a healthy diet consists of click here.

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