Type 2 Diabetes: The NHS Offers 800 Calorie Diet Therapy

A high-calorie diet that can reverse type 2 diabetes should be part of an NHS pilot project in England.

The diet of 800 calories a day, in the form of meals and liquid shakes, will be prescribed for three months, initially to 5,000 people, with a follow-up.

In the UK, nine in 10 people with diabetes have type 2, which is closely linked to diet and lifestyle.

An NHS England program to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes is also being expanded.

A test conducted at the end of last year on the very low calorie diet helped nearly half of the people concerned to turn the tide.

It is now ready to be deployed more widely to judge whether this success can be replicated in a larger population.

"Beneficiaries"

Professor Jonathan Valabhji, NHS National Clinical Director in England for Diabetes and Obesity, acknowledges that the diet is undoubtedly a challenge and that it is not suitable for everyone.

"But we think it's worth exploring the implementation of these programs within the NHS so that those who could benefit from it can benefit," he said.

Although type 2 diabetes may have a genetic component, it is strongly linked to overweight or obesity.

About two-thirds of adults and one-third of children are currently overweight or obese, which increases the rates of this condition.

Type 1 diabetes, on the other hand, is an autoimmune disease that is not related to overweight or inactivity.

What is type 2 diabetes?

• It is a common condition that leads to an excessive increase in blood sugar (glucose).
• It is caused by problems with a chemical substance in the body (hormone) called insulin.
• Type 2 diabetes can cause symptoms such as excessive thirst, need to pee a lot and fatigue
• It can also increase the risk of getting serious eye, heart and nervous problems.

A type 2 diabetes prevention program has been running in England for three years and has shown encouraging results.

Up to now, more than 250,000 people on the verge of developing type 2 diabetes have been referred to courses offering advice and support on diet, diet and nutrition. physical activity.

On average, participants each lost 8 lbs. (3.6 kg) of weight, significantly reducing their risk of becoming diabetic.

At present, the program is also expected to expand significantly, helping 200,000 people a year.

Prof Valabhji says that it is important that the program continues to yield results.

"Of course, at the end of the day, it's important to know if we prevent type 2 diabetes from developing.

"We have an independent evaluation of the program that will examine, first, whether we have prevented diabetes among people participating in the program.

"But secondly, we have the means to examine whether the program has had a positive impact on the overall rate of development of type 2 diabetes in the general population."

Chris Askew, managing director of the charity Diabetes UK, said the plans to double the size of the NHS diabetes prevention program were "excellent news".

"The ambition displayed by the NHS must be at the height of all government policies – we need stronger action on marketing for kids and clearer nutrition labeling to help people make healthy choices, "he said.

Simon Stevens, Managing Director of NHS England, said: "What's good for our waistlines is also for our portfolio, given the huge costs we all bear as taxpayers for these diseases in large avoidable part. "

But he said the NHS could not fight this battle alone.

"The NHS pound will go further if the food industry is also taking action to reduce unwanted calories, adding sugar and salt from processed foods, televised dinners and take-away takeaways. "said Mr. Stevens.

The announcements come before what is known as the "Plan for the future of the NHS in England", in which measures to prevent health problems should be strongly promoted.