Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes GP practices lead the way in supporting patients living with type 2 diabetes through innovative programme

Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes GP practices are leading the way in supporting patients living with type 2 diabetes through the innovative Healthy Living Programme.

Healthy Living is a free online service designed to provide advice and information to people living with type 2 diabetes, to help them better manage their condition.

As part of the initiative, GP practices in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes were asked to identify patients with a type 2 diabetes diagnosis and send them a text message encouraging them to register on the Healthy Living website.

Around 32,000 texts have been sent to patients in the area so far – with impressive results.

Data up until the end of January 2023 shows that patient registration numbers have risen from 179 to 3,231, which equates to over an 18-fold increase in registrations.

Nicky Poulain, Chief Primary Care Officer for Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board, said: “The Healthy Living Programme is an excellent example of how technology can be used to support patients in managing their conditions effectively.

“By providing structured education and support, the programme can help patients with a type 2 diabetes diagnosis to better understand their condition and learn how to self-manage effectively.

“By encouraging GP practices in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes to promote the programme to patients, we have seen a fantastic 18-fold increase in registrations, which should make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of local people.”

The Healthy Living programme is user-led and offers an alternative means of accessing support to the more traditional, group-based structured education programmes.

Originally developed by University College London (UCL), Healthy Living provides information about type 2 diabetes and its treatments, offers advice on emotional wellbeing, and helps with adopting and maintaining healthy behaviours.

Healthy Living is a free online NHS service. For more information and to register, visit www.healthyliving.nhs.uk