Soup and shake NHS diet plan can help type 2 diabetics put disease in remission

A new diet plan is being rolled out by the NHS in a bid to help people with diabetes lose weight. The revolutionary soup and shake scheme could help type 2 patients, while saving the NHS money

A new diet is set to help more diabetics up and down the country.

People who live with type 2 diabetes in the UK often struggle with weight problems and it can be difficult to shift the extra pounds.

But a new NHS diet promises to help with this.

Due to complications the condition can cause, diabetes is estimated to cost the NHS around £10 billion every year, so the health service will be keen to expand the scheme if it continues to have the same results.

Some 2,000 people took part in the initial programme and followed a very simple change in their diet.

It does seem to be working, so what is the diet?

What is the NHS soup and shake diet and how does it work?

The diet sees diabetics replace normal meals with low-calorie replacements, such as soup and shakes.

NHS England said : “Eligible participants are offered low calorie, total diet replacement products – for example, soups and shakes which add up to around 900 calories per day – for up to 12 weeks. During this time participants will replace all normal meals with these products.”

Additional support and monitoring is also given over the course of the three-month programme. This will be anything from group-based, one-to-one or digitally.

Professor Jonathan Valabhji, NHS national clinical director for diabetes and obesity, said: “The fantastic results our participants have achieved through this programme are really encouraging, and show that real-world experience is in line with what we have found in trials.”

Participants of the initial trial were found to have lost 7.2kg on average and 13.4kg after three months – around two stone.

Previous clinical data, in the Diabetes UK -funded ‘DiRECT’ trial, saw “almost half of those who went on a low-calorie diet achieve remission of their Type 2 diabetes after one year”.

Prof Valabhji continued: “We know this weight loss will go a long way to help people stay well and avoid preventable illness, and for many will also mean they can put Type 2 diabetes into remission.”

People are given help and advice when moving off the diet.

How do I get on the soup and shake diet?

The diet is being rolled out slowly across England at the moment.

To qualify, participants must be aged 18 to 65, and have had a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes within the last six years.

People from white ethnic groups must have a BMI over 27 kilos per square metre, while Black, Asian and other ethnic groups should have one over 25 kg/m ² .

You can contact your GP if you are eligible and are currently in the following regions:

• Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes
• Birmingham and Solihull
• Derbyshire
• Frimley
• Gloucestershire
• Greater Manchester
• Humber Coast and Vale
• North central London
• North east London

• South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw
• Black Country and West Birmingham
• Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
• Kent and Medway
• Lancashire and South Cumbria
• Mid and South Essex
• North East and North Cumbria
• Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
• Somerset
• South west London
• Sussex
• West Yorkshire