NHS diet supports Cheshire and Merseyside patients to lose weight and fight type 2 diabetes

Monday, 28 October 2024

Patients in Cheshire and Merseyside are shedding 10% of their body weight and putting their type 2 diabetes into remission, thanks to a new NHS diet.

The NHS Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission (T2DR) Programme provides a ‘soups and shakes’ diet replacement treatment for people who are living with type 2 diabetes and are overweight.

Commissioned by NHS England and delivered in Cheshire and Merseyside by Momenta Newcastle, the programme offers eligible participants low-calorie products consisting of 800 to 900 kilocalories a day for 12 weeks, replacing all normal meals.

Alongside this, participants receive support and monitoring for 12 months, including help to re-introduce regular food after the initial 12-week diet, which comprises of mainly soups and shakes.

Early trials found that this approach helped almost half of participants’ type 2 diabetes into remission. On average, patients lost over 10kg in weight, improved their blood sugar levels and reduced their of use diabetes-related medication.

The T2DR Programme, which began in April 2024, has seen over 134 referrals in Cheshire and Merseyside in its first five months – exceeding an initial target of 105 referrals for this period.

Due to high demand for the programme locally, work is now underway to increase the number of places available in the region, which will ensure that even more eligible people can take advantage of the scheme.

Professor Rowan Pritchard Jones, Medical Director for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, said:

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“There is a strong association between obesity and type 2 diabetes, and the risk and severity of type 2 diabetes increases with body mass index (BMI). That’s why it’s great to see so many people take advantage of the scheme, as evidence shows that a specially formulated diet coupled with healthy lifestyle support can have remarkable results for patients.

“The strict nature of the diet and level of commitment required means that the programme will not be suitable for everyone with type 2 diabetes. Your GP or the team providing your care will support you to find the best approach for you, whether that be healthier eating, more exercise, medication or surgery.”

To be eligible for the T2DR Programme, individuals must:

  • be aged 18 to 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)

If you fall within the eligibility criteria and are interested in joining the programme, speak to your GP or the team providing your care.

You can also check if you would be suitable by completing a self-assessment questionnaire on the Momenta Newcastle website.