Record numbers of people have been put on a “soups and shakes” diet by the NHS to reverse their diabetes.

Over 30,000 people have now been put on the 12-month total diet replacement programme which provides soups, shakes and bars. This completely replaces normal food for the first 12 weeks then participants are slowly weaned back on to healthy food.

A recent study found one in three patients on the diet programme put their Type 2 diabetes into remission - something which was once thought impossible. Over 13,000 people were enrolled onto the NHS Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme in 2024/25, almost double the 6,401 the previous year.

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Dr Clare Hambling, NHS Director for Diabetes and Obesity, said: “It is fantastic to see that this proven NHS diet programme is transforming lives and helping thousands of people to lose weight, and for some people put their type 2 diabetes into remission.

“The revolutionary programme can really help turn things around for people with type 2 diabetes who are struggling to manage their weight and health, and alongside the low calorie diets themselves, patients are provided with one-to-one support and guidance to help them sustain a healthy lifestyle for longer.”

Some 5.6 million people in the UK have type 2 diabetes including an estimated 1.2 million who are undiagnosed. It is a leading cause of preventable sight loss in people of working age and contributes to kidney failure, lower limb amputation, heart attack, stroke and cancers.

The soups and shakes are provided by the NHS and consist of between 800 and 900 calories a day. The normal UK recommended calorie intake for the average adult is 2,500 kcal for men and 2,000 kcal for women to maintain their weight.

Participants are then coached by clinicians to gradually reintroduce healthy, nutritious food to maintain weight loss and their progress is monitored.

Colette Marshall, chief executive at Diabetes UK, said: “For almost two decades, Diabetes UK has proudly spearheaded research that has redefined how type 2 diabetes is treated and managed – turning the possibility of remission into reality for some.

“Remission can transform lives, offering people with a recent diagnosis of type 2 diabetes a better chance of a healthier future, helping them live well and reduce the risk of devastating diabetes-related complications. We’re delighted that tens of thousands of people have now benefitted from the NHSE Path to Remission programme, inspired by Diabetes UK’s landmark DiRECT trial.

“Putting type 2 diabetes into remission can be challenging and staying there even more so."

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To be eligible for the NHS Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme a person must have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within the last six years and have a BMI over 27, or 25 for people from some ethnic minority backgrounds.