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NHS England’s Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme, which includes the ‘soup and shakes’ diet, is to be rolled out across the whole of England. This is after latest research found participants lost on average over two stone in three months and it was maintained at six months.
The latest data was presented at the Diabetes UK Professional Conference and found that weight loss was similar to that seen in clinical trials, showing early promise that the programme might lead to remission in up to half of people with type 2 diabetes.
The programme will now be made available to everyone with type 2 diabetes who meets the criteria and lives in England by March 2024.
It follows the latest research from the Diabetes UK-funded Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT) which showed that losing weight can put type 2 diabetes in remission for at least five years in some people.
NHS ‘soup and shakes’ diet
The programme works by kickstarting weight loss through low calorie, total diet replacement products such as shakes and soups for the first three months, supported and monitored by expert clinicians and coaches. After this, a carefully managed plan reintroduces healthy, nutritious food and participants can track their progress through one-to-ones, group sessions and digital support – to help them maintain a healthier weight.
Chris Askew OBE, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK, said: “We are thrilled to see that NHS England’s Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme will be rolled out across the whole of England, giving thousands more people the chance to put their type 2 diabetes into remission.
“Remission from type 2 diabetes can be life-changing but we know weight loss is really hard and getting the right support is critical. For those who aren’t able to go into remission, losing weight can still lead to major health benefits, including improved blood sugar levels, and reduced risk of serious diabetes complications such as heart attack and stroke.
“Today’s important announcement is the result of over a decade of research funded by Diabetes UK, and we are proud that our ground-breaking DiRECT trial – which recently reported its five-year findings – has been central to making this possible. The expansion of this programme will offer even more people with type 2 diabetes a better chance of a healthier future.”
To be referred, patients will need to fit the following criteria:
- Aged 18 to 65 years
- Have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within the last 6 years. This is because the evidence shows that remission is more likely the closer you are to your diagnosis
- BMI of 27kg/m² or higher if you’re White, or 25kg/m² if you’re from an ethnic minority group
- Have had an HbA1c measurement taken within the last 12 months and the results were 43-87 mmol/mol, if on diabetes medication, or 48-87 mmol/mol, if not on diabetes medication.