EXCLUSIVE

Pharmacists will test patients for non-diabetic hyperglycaemia as part of the world's first nationwide diabetes prevention scheme, NHS England has confirmed. 

Pharmacists can also identify patients eligible for the programme through NHS health checks, NHS England told C+D last week (March 23).

Pharmacists will play a "key role" in the scheme, NHS England said, building on the announcement last year that pharmacists would refer patients to the prevention programme. 

The commissioning body announced the rollout of the scheme last week (March 22). Patients recruited onto the programme will receive at least 13 education and exercise sessions over nine months, designed to prevent type 2 diabetes.

The scheme will launch in 27 areas in England this year, including Sheffield, Birmingham and West London. 

It will be available nationwide within four years, NHS England said, with 100,000 people expected to use the scheme each year after 2020.

Seven pilot sites have been testing the programme for a year, some of which have involved pharmacy chains, it added.

How do you help patients with type 2 diabetes? 

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