NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme

Reduce your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes

Your recent blood test results show that you could be at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. To help you reduce your chances, a new FREE health programme called Healthier You is being delivered on behalf of the NHS by Living Well Taking Control. The programme will provide you with the tools to make small but significant changes to not only reduce or reverse your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, but also other conditions such as heart disease and stroke.

Across the country thousands of people have attended the programme and there have been some real success stories. People have gained access to expert advice and encouraged their family and friends to also make healthier lifestyle choices to feel fitter and happier.

There is a place on the course reserved for you, we strongly recommend you attend.

Please either complete the contact form below, or call the Living Well Taking Control team on 0303 300 0181 (local rate number) to book your place. They will ask for your

NHS Number : NHS Number (If you know it)
Blood Test Result : You will find this in the text message
Blood Test Date : Information can also be found in the text message

I understand participating in the programme requires time, so the team will try and give you options for it to fit in with your other commitments. There is currently a remote option, as well as a digital app. When you contact the team, they will book your place for an Initial telephone assessment where they will let you know everything you need to know about the programme and there is a chance for you to ask any questions. I hope you take this opportunity to join and wish you luck on the programme.

If you have already contacted the provider or started this programme, there is no further action to take.

Yours sincerely

Shore Medical

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HEALTHIER YOU

NHS DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAMME

Across the country thousands of people like you have attended a local Healthier You service and successfully reduced their risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Why have I been invited to join? Your doctor or nurse has recommended that you attend because you’re at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and they’ve asked Living Well Taking Control (LWTC) to provide you with support to help you manage your health. You may also benefit if you have another long-term condition.

Talk of Type 2 diabetes can be alarming but there is strong evidence to show that by taking action, the onset of diabetes can be delayed and controlled. Your lifestyle and the choices you make in your daily life are the key things that can affect your health.

The aim of the Healthier You programme is to help you improve your knowledge, ability and confidence whilst offering you the support you need to make good lifestyle choices.

The programme provides you with support meetings and information for a year.

What will we cover on the programme?

Information on diet;
Information of physical activity;
Managing stress and your emotional wellbeing; and
The importance of monitoring your weight.

Will it cost me anything?

It’s free to attend the Healthier You programme.

What happens on the programme?

You will be invited to join a small group of people who have also been identified at being at risk of type 2 diabetes. This group, led by a trained facilitator, will meet remotely for 90 minutes every other week.

Don’t worry, it won’t be like being at school; it will be informal, with the facilitators being friendly and local. Following these meetings, you will receive six further support sessions to help your progress on a regular basis for up to 9 months and you will be given information about a range of relevant local activities.

What’s in it for me?

At the beginning of the programme, you will learn about how to make positive changes whilst meeting with people in a similar situation along the way.

You’ll be given lots of support to help you stay on track. There will also be information on a range of activities in your community. The programme can help:

Improve your quality of life by having information to empower you to more effectively self-manage your lifestyle;
Improve health behaviours; and
Prevent disease progression.

Will my needs be catered for?

Yes, disabilities and language barriers can all be catered for but please let us know as soon as possible about any help you may need.

Next steps

If you’d like to take part, all you need to do is to agree to the referral to join the Healthier You programme.

For more information, visit www.lwtcsupport.co.uk

Type 2 diabetes

Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin to maintain a normal blood glucose level, or the body is unable to use the insulin that is produced – known as insulin resistance.

The pancreas (a large gland behind the stomach) produces the hormone insulin, which moves glucose from your blood into your cells, where it's converted into energy. In type 2 diabetes, there are several reasons why the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin. This means that glucose stays in the blood and isn't used as fuel for energy. It's far more common than type 1 diabetes (when the pancreas does not produce any insulin). Untreated diabetes can damage your organs, so it's important that it's diagnosed as early as possible.

Diabetes can have serious health consequences, including heart disease and blindness. But with careful management you can reduce your risk. For more information, visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/Diabetes-type2

A growing problem

Type 2 diabetes is often associated with obesity and tends to be diagnosed in older people. It's estimated that more than 1 in 16 people in the UK has diabetes (diagnosed or undiagnosed), and this figure is rising rapidly.

There are currently 3.9 million people living with diabetes in the UK, with 90 per cent of those affected having type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes can cause serious long-term health problems. It's the most common cause of vision loss and blindness in people of working age. Diabetes is also responsible for most cases of kidney failure and lower limb amputation (other than accidents).

Living Well Taking Control is an educational programme underpinned by behavioural change. It focuses on peer support and discussion to help people who are at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes to change their lifestyle. The programme has been developed by Health Exchange and Westbank Community Health and Care. Registered address: Living Well Taking Control LLP, Avoca Court, 27 Moseley Road, Birmingham B12 0HJ

People with diabetes are up to five times more likely to have cardiovascular disease (such as a stroke) than those without diabetes.

What you can do

If you’re at risk, you may be able to prevent it by making lifestyle changes. You should:

Eat a healthy, balanced diet;
Lose weight (if you’re overweight) and maintain a healthy weight;
Stop smoking (if you smoke);
Drink alcohol in moderation; and
Take plenty of regular exercise.

If you already have type 2 diabetes, it may be possible to control your symptoms by making the above changes. This will also minimise your risk of developing complications. As type 2 diabetes usually gets worse, you may eventually need medication (usually tablets) to keep your blood glucose at normal levels.

Risk factors

Four of the main risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes are:

Age – being over the age of 40 (over 25 for south Asian people);
Genetics – having a close relative with the condition (parent, brother or sister);
Weight – being overweight or obese; or
Ethnicity – being of south Asian, Chinese, African-Caribbean or black African origin (even if you were born in the UK).

Your risk of developing type 2 diabetes is increased if your blood glucose level is higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes. This is sometimes called "pre-diabetes", doctors sometimes call it impaired fasting glycaemia (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).

Pre-diabetes can progress to type 2 diabetes if you don't take preventative steps, such as

making lifestyle changes. These include eating healthily, losing weight (if you're overweight) and taking plenty of regular exercise.