National Health Service (NHS) England is planning to roll-out a device worn on the wrist to thousands of people who are considered to be at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
It is part of its Diabetes Prevention Programme (DPP), launched in 2016 in partnership with Public Health England (PHE) and the patient group organisation Diabetes UK.
The DPP helps people who are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes by giving them tailored, personalised help including advice on healthy eating, physical exercise and managing weight.
Almost four million people in England have type 2 diabetes and a sixth of hospital beds are occupied by someone with the condition, which leads to more than 9,000 amputations each year.
NHS England said that up to a fifth of the 40,000 places on its DPP per year will now be delivered digitally.
They will receive: wearable technology that monitors levels of exercise with apps which allow users to access health coaches and educational content; online peer support groups with the ability to set and monitor goals electronically.
More information here: http://www.onmedica.com/NewsArticle.aspx?id=2623667c-792b-4589-aa4b-db243f64b5b2
Advocacy Action – Could your country adopt a similar approach? Have you already done so and can you share the results? Other than cost, are their other barriers to the use of new technology?