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HomeWeekly RoundupNHS pays for 'soup-and-shakes' to tackle UK's type 2 diabetes problem

NHS pays for 'soup-and-shakes' to tackle UK's type 2 diabetes problem

Thousands of people will be offered a soup-and-shakes weight-loss plan on the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) to tackle the rise of type 2 diabetes, reports The Guardian. A successful trial of the low-calorie diet and lifestyle plan has already taken place. The government said the programme will now be expanded to reach 5,000 more patients in 10 areas.

Bridget Turner, director of policy campaigns and improvement at Diabetes UK, is quoted in The Guardian as saying: “This is an important first step to ensure that people with type 2 diabetes can access a remission programme within the NHS and benefit from the ground-breaking findings of the Diabetes UK-funded DiRECT research.”

Professor Jonathan Valabhji, the NHS national clinical director for diabetes and obesity, said: “There has never been a more important time to lose weight and put their type 2 diabetes into remission, so it’s good news for thousands of people across the country that practical measures like this are increasingly available on the NHS.”

The year-long plans will see those who could benefit provided with “total diet replacement products” such as specially formulated low-calorie shakes and soups for three months, alongside support to increase their exercise levels.

Patients will also be offered managed plans for reintroducing ordinary, nutritious food, with ongoing support from clinicians and coaches.

 

[link url="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/sep/01/thousands-of-diabetics-to-be-given-soup-and-shake-diet-plan-on-nhs"]Full report in The Guardian[/link]

 

[link url="https://www.diabetes.org.uk/research/research-round-up/research-spotlight/research-spotlight-low-calorie-liquid-diet#results"]DiREECT research[/link]

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