NHS lifestyle scheme has ‘huge benefits’ for people at risk of diabetes, study finds

International study finds those on England programme have bigger drops in BMI, blood sugar and bad cholesterol

People at risk of diabetes reduce their weight and levels of bad cholesterol after undergoing lifestyle counselling" in the NHS's diabetes prevention programme, a major international study has found.

The health service launched the programme in 2016 to help prevent patients in England from developing diabetes through intensive weight loss, diet and exercise goals. Prediabetic patients referred to the scheme attend at least 13 group sessions over nine months. Latest figures from NHS England show that 1.3 million people have been referred to the scheme so far and 120,000 patients are due to take part this year.