KITLIVING
continued over
programmes are emerging that already
have proven positive results. Earlier this
year, NHS England gave the go ahead for
CCGs to use 25% of their Type 2 diabetes
education Transformation Funds budget
for digital tools.
With so much innovation, we take
a look at some of the research and the
programmes designed to help people
with diabetes or those at risk of Type 2
to make positive changes to their lifestyle
and - ultimately - their health.
AXA PPP Healthcare
Health insurance companies have
cottoned on to these ideas too, with Just+
from Active+, a digital platform from AXA
PPP Healthcare, claiming to 'take control
of diabetes for just £149 (often £99 with
special offers). This is a subscriptionbased support and education programme
to combat Type 2 diabetes that includes
one-to-one coaching as well as kit
selected in order to create healthy habits,
which might include a supplied blood test
meter. The Just+ app is a means to deliver
messages from a coach, a way to share
tips and tricks, and also to track progress
of the user. The whole thing starts with a
paid-for six-week kick-start programme,
after which it's free and you get to keep
the kit. The insurance company says in
its website, "Improving health and fitness
is as important as picking up the pieces
when things go wrong. More people are
taking greater responsibility for their own
wellbeing… using tech and information to
create personal solutions."
www.justplus.co.uk
Changing Health
Featured on BBC documentary How
to Stay Young, Changing Health
provides behaviour change programmes
(comprising digital education and lifestyle
coaching) for people with Type 2 diabetes,
and is currently commissioned across 16
NHS organisations. It supports people to
set realistic goals for activity, weight loss
and food intake. After GP referral, people
can get access to the program in minutes.
Simple information including short videos,
articles and interactive activities about diet
and exercise are there for people to view
and digest as quickly or as slowly as they
like. A personal coach specialising in lifestyle
behaviour change is also on hand over the
phone, at times that work for the user.
John Grumitt, Changing Health
CEO says, "Made possible through
collaborative relationships with our
NHS partners, together we identified
why patients don't engage, how the
healthcare systems often fail them, and
came up with a solution that worked."
Stats reveal that within 12 weeks,
users see positive results, including
reduced HbA1c and a notable increase
in moderate to vigorous activity.
www.changinghealth.com
Ingeus
Focusing entirely on diabetes prevention,
Ingeus works in partnership with Leicester "We try to go further than just
looking at diet and exercise,
with large parts focusing
on things like sleep, stress
management, and mental
health.
- OurPath CEO Chris Edson
Diabetes Centre to support people at
high risk of Type 2. It's the largest single
provider of The Healthier You: NHS
Diabetes Prevention Programme (NDPP)
across the country, with more than
107,000 referrals.
Available by referral only, people are
invited to join free group sessions at a
local venue. There, they meet others also
aiming to lower their Type 2 risk and to
speak with trained facilitators who will
help to increase their knowledge and
understanding - how making simple
changes to diet, weight and the amount
of physical activity can really reduce the
risk of going on to develop Type 2.
With outstanding results in supporting
people to reduce their weight and blood
sugar levels, Ingeus picked up the
Prevention and Early Diagnosis: Type 2
Diabetes accolade at this year's Quality
in Care (QiC) Diabetes Award. Barry
Fletcher, MD of Ingeus UK commented
on the win saying, "We are delighted to
have been recognised by industry peers
for our work with the NHS diabetes
prevention program. This is a nationwide
initiative, delivered at scale, but with
people at its core. This award recognises
that effective behaviour change programs
can positively influence outcomes for