The NHS Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme is a joint initiative between NHS England and Diabetes UK available to eligible people in England.
This programme provides a low calorie, total diet replacement treatment for people who are living with type 2 diabetes and obesity or overweight.
The programme is based on research showing that a 3-month specially formulated diet comprising of total diet replacement products including soups and shakes, followed by healthy lifestyle support helped people living with type 2 diabetes and obesity or overweight to lose over 10kg in weight, improve their blood sugar levels, reduce diabetes-related medication and, in almost half of participants, put their type 2 diabetes into remission. Early data from the programme has shown that weight loss was similar to that seen in the clinical trials.
Learning from the programme will help to build knowledge and understanding about the use of interventions such as this and the impact they might have on the treatment of people living with type 2 diabetes in the future.
How it works
Eligible participants will be offered low calorie, total diet replacement products including soups and shakes consisting of 800 to 900 kilocalories a day for 12 weeks. During this time, participants will replace all normal meals with these products.
Alongside this, participants will receive support and monitoring for 12 months including help to re-introduce food after the initial 12-week period. This support will provide participants with the help and advice they need throughout every stage of the programme. Participants will have the choice to receive this support from a coach in-person or digitally. The programme is fully funded by the NHS, therefore there is no cost to participants.
Participants will also be closely supported by their local GP practice – for example, if medicines need to be changed.
Who is eligible and how to access the service
The NHS Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme will not be suitable for everyone and there are some eligibility requirements that people must meet to be involved. These include that individuals must:
- be aged 18 – 65 years,
- have a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes within the last 6 years, and
- have a BMI over 27 kg/m2 (where individuals are from White ethnic groups) or over 25 kg/m2 (where individuals are from Black, Asian and other ethnic groups)
Individuals who are interested in joining the programme can discuss their individual circumstances with their GP or diabetes team at their next appointment to find out whether it is suitable for them.
People who are not eligible for the NHS Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme should discuss their individual circumstances and services that are available to them locally with their GP or diabetes team at their next appointment.
Adults living with obesity who also have a diagnosis of diabetes or hypertension or both may be eligible for the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme – a nationally available 12-week online behavioural and lifestyle programme accessed via a smartphone or computer with internet access, following a referral from primary care or community pharmacy.
The studies
The NHS Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme is based on two studies.
The Diabetes UK-funded ‘DiRECT’ trial saw almost half of those who went on a low calorie diet achieve remission of their type 2 diabetes after one year. A quarter of participants achieved a 15kg or more weight loss, and of these, 86% put their type 2 diabetes into remission.
Another trial, called ‘DROPLET’, demonstrated similar weight loss in people who were living with obesity.
The details of the trials can be found here:
Contact
NHS England will not be able to provide any clinical advice, refer people onto the programme or answer individual questions about eligibility for the programme.
For general enquiries about the programme, please email england.t2diabetesremission@nhs.net