NICE recommends diet and weight loss interventions for 1.7 million at risk of type 2 diabetes

People who are deemed at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes should be given priority access to exercise classes and nutrition courses, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended.
NICE has identified 1.7 million people in the UK who are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and says providing people with better access to health education could significantly make a difference.
Professor Mark Baker, director of the centre for guidelines at NICE, said: “We know that helping someone to make simple changes to their diet and exercise levels can significantly reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. And that this approach is a cost-effective way of managing an illness that currently costs the NHS around £8.8 billion a year.”
In its updated guidelines, NICE says priority to accessing programmes on nutrition and exercise should be given to people with fasting glucose levels between 6.5-6.9 mmol/l who may already have been diagnosed with prediabetes.
Adults aged 40 and above and people aged between 25 and 39 of South Asia, Chinese, African-Caribbea, black African and other high-risk black and minority ethnic groups should be risk assessed for the condition, NICE has said.
“We need to make sure that the people most at risk have access to the care they need. This is why this updated guidance from NICE is so important, it will help NHS England and Public Health England to prioritise when necessary,” added Baker.
Editor’s note: Eating a healthy diet such as low-carb and getting regular exercise has been shown by users of our Low Carb Program to help prevent prediabetes from developing into type 2 diabetes.
Unfortunately, while NICE has updated its guidelines to reflect the need to reduce rates of type 2 diabetes, it still recommends high intake of wholegrain bread, cereals and fruit, which can all raise blood glucose levels.
Moreover, NICE advocates against eating high-fat foods, even though studies in recent years have shown eating full-fat can prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes, while eating low-fat could increase the risk of early death.
While it is positive to see NICE recommending proactive action to combat obesity and type 2 diabetes, it is disappointing that their new guidelines do not reflect modern science and clinical and anecdotal success regarding the success of a low-carb, high-fat diet.