How the NHS can help you lower your risk of Type 2 Diabetes

The NHS's Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme offers support to people in North Yorkshire at risk of Type 2 diabetes, helping them make healthier lifestyle choices to prevent or delay the condition.

The programme has already helped over 900,000 people in England who are at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes since its launch in 2016.

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is a long-term condition where the body doesn't produce enough insulin or the insulin it produces doesn't work properly. This leads to high blood sugar levels, which can cause serious health problems if not managed effectively.

Unlike Type 1 diabetes, which is often diagnosed in childhood and is not preventable, Type 2 diabetes is more common in adults and is closely linked to lifestyle factors such as being overweight, having a poor diet, and being physically inactive.

What is the 'Healthier You programme - and how can it help?

The Healthier You programme provides a comprehensive, nine-month initiative designed to support individuals at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Participants receive personalised assistance to make healthier lifestyle choices, focusing on:

• Healthy eating: Guidance on balanced diets and nutritional choices.
• Weight management: Strategies to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
• Increased physical activity: Encouragement and support to become more physically active.

The programme is available in two formats:

• Face-to-face group sessions: In-person meetings offering direct interaction and support.
• Digital service: Online access to health coaches, peer support groups, and tools to track progress.

Research from the University of Manchester indicates that completing the programme can reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by over one-third. Participants typically achieve an average weight loss of 3.3kg.

Local Impact in North Yorkshire

In North Yorkshire, the programme has already helped many people reduce their risk of Type 2 diabetes. Local participants have seen improvements in their health, including weight loss and better control of blood sugar levels.

In 2022/23, about 64.6% of adults in North Yorkshire were overweight or obese (meaning their body mass index, or BMI, was greater than 25), which is similar to the national average of 64%. Of these, 25.3% were classified as obese (with a BMI greater than 30), which is slightly lower than the national average of 26.2%. These numbers show how important it is to have programmes like Healthier You to address health risks related to weight.

Eligibility criteria

You are eligible for the Healthier You programme if you:

• Are aged 18 or over.
• Are registered with a GP practice in one of the programme’s locations.
• Are not pregnant.
• Are able to take part in light to moderate physical activity.
• Have not been previously diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
• Have been diagnosed with non-diabetic hyperglycaemia, which means your blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough to be diabetes. This is usually shown by:
  • A test that shows your average blood sugar level over time, with results between 42 and 47 millimoles per mole (6.0% to 6.4%).
  • A blood sugar level measured after fasting for at least 8 hours, with results between 5.5 and 6.9 millimoles per liter.

If you have a history of gestational diabetes (diabetes that happens during pregnancy), you can also join the programme, even without a referral from your doctor.

How to assess your risk and join the Healthier You programme

People in North Yorkshire can assess their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes using the NHS’s Know Your Risk online tool. Those identified as being at high risk may be eligible for referral to the Healthier You programme through their GP.

The Healthier You programme is delivered in Humber and North Yorkshire with both in-person and online options. If there isn’t a programme running in your area at the time of your referral, you will be placed on a waiting list or have the option to attend a programme in another area.

For Humber and North Yorkshire:

Visit: https://preventing-diabetes.co.uk/locations/humber-coast-vale/

Email: info@preventing-diabetes.co.uk

Phone: 0333 577 3010

Locations for North Yorkshire

The Healthier You programme is available at various locations across North Yorkshire, making it easy for you to find your closest one:

• Jennyfield Styan Centre, HG3 2XU
• Harrogate Quaker Meeting House, HG1 5PP
• Knaresborough Wellbeing Hub, HG5 0LG
• Melmerby and Middleton Quernhow Village Hall, HG4 5HA
• Chain Lane Community Hub, HG5 0AS
• Sowerby Parochial Hall, YO7 1JG
• Sowerby Methodist Church, YO7 1JQ
• Rural Arts, YO7 1QS
• St Johns Church Hall, YO15 1EA
• Milton Rooms, YO17 7LX
• Wilton Village Hall, YO18 7LE
• Sneaton Village Hall, YO22 5HS
• Kirkbymoorside Library, YO62 6AT
• Richmondshire Cricket Club, DL10 4AR

Booking opening hours

Booking for these sessions is available during specific hours, detailed below:

• Monday: 9 am to 7 pm
• Tuesday: 9 am to 5 pm
• Wednesday: 9 am to 7 pm
• Thursday: 9 am to 5 pm
• Friday: 9 am to 5 pm
• Saturday: 9 am to 4:30 pm
• Sunday: Closed