A Healthier Future: type 2 Diabetes prevention, early detection and intervention: framework

Ministerial foreword

It is time to take action to tackle the growing prevalence of type 2 diabetes and the significant impacts this has on the lives of individuals and on the health of Scotland’s population as a whole.

With the right support and guidance, individuals can be empowered to mitigate their risk of developing type 2 diabetes and, for those recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, to improve management of their condition to delay and avoid complications. This pathway will complement the wider work taking place to deliver effective, person-centred weight management services to support the people of Scotland achieve healthier lives.

Ensuring equitable provision of evidence-based, co-produced practices across Scotland is critical for improving the health of the nation and supports action to help those most vulnerable to health inequalities in our society. The direction set out in the framework supports individuals to take action to secure their desired outcomes and ensures they are supported by well-informed and well-resourced care professionals.

This framework forms part of the aims set out in ‘A Healthier Future: Diet and Healthy Weight Delivery Plan’ to give people fair access to suitable and effective weight management services, which enable more people in Scotland to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. The plan focuses on prevention and early intervention to ensure there is quality provision and equity of access right across our communities in Scotland and for those most vulnerable to health inequalities.

In 2017, we announced a £42 million investment to improve the provision of weight management services for those with, or at risk of, type 2 diabetes. This year we will allocate funding to a first tranche of early adopter NHS boards, who will redesign and co-produce services appropriate for those ‘at risk’ or diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and in keeping with the guidance set out in this framework.

We look forward to learning from this first year of implementation and will share the challenges and successes to support the delivery of locally appropriate services across the whole of Scotland.

Joe Fitzpatrick MSP
Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing