Highlighting successes this Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Week

To mark Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Week, we would like to highlight some experiences of service users that have completed our NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, in particular the aspects of the course that benefitted them the most and could be of help to others in similar circumstances. Here are some testimonials from previous service users who have achieved positive results through committing to the programme:

Making lifestyle changes that last

It’s important to highlight that sometimes there might be other factors in life that get in the way of making lifestyle changes. It can be a case of waiting to get through these challenging periods before being able to enact lifestyle changes, as in the case of this service user. However, in this time it can still be beneficial to learn about strategies to reduce the risk of diabetes, as we outline in our programme. After completing our NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, service users feel more equipped to make and continue changes to their lifestyle long into the future. We also have a large bank of resources available to our service users that can provide supplementary information and advice, and serve as a reminder of the key topics and strategies discussed in the programme.

Getting active

Our physical activity content is designed to both illustrate the importance of regular physical activity for our health but also provide methods of making it accessible and enjoyable for people from all walks of life. Our exercise resources, including videos and weekly activity guides, contain different levels of challenge for each movement, to provide both an opportunity for progression of movement, while also enabling those with mobility challenges to engage in regular movement.

Prioritising your mental wellbeing

Our programme focuses not only on our physical health, but also our mental health as this is known as a major influencer on our risk of developing type 2 diabetes. With a greater understanding of how stress affects the body and how approaches such as mindfulness and changing our thoughts can make a big difference, service users such as the one quoted here have found themselves better equipped to make other lifestyle changes to improve their health and wellbeing.

Learning about nutrition

Our nutrition content aims to inform service users of the macronutrients found in the foods that we eat on a daily basis. Specifically, we help highlight foods containing hidden sugars and food marketing that might mislead people to perceiving a food as healthy. We also help to create meal plans that are suited to everyone’s individual needs.

Our NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is designed to educate and inform those taking part in the best approaches for creating a adhering to a healthy and balanced diet, how to regularly keep active and enjoy it while maintaining movement as part of a regular routine, and techniques to manage the challenges and stresses in life and stay motivated to continue with lifestyle changes long into the future.

Find out more about the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme here.