Lifestyle modification is first-line management for any patient with type 2 diabetes. A healthier diet and increased activity can delay the onset, slow the progression and reduce the risk of complications. Pharmacy professionals need to be prepared to provide appropriate advice on these lifestyle changes. 

Providing structured patient education is one of the first recommendations in the NICE guideline, which suggests how to provide this support at diagnosis and at each review. Healthcare professionals can signpost people to structured education programmes, such as X-PERT and DESMOND, and help people with type 2 diabetes see the benefits of attending. 

The X-PERT education programme has demonstrated a range of outcome benefits, such as improved glycaemic control, reduced requirement for diabetes medicines, increased knowledge of diabetes, self-management skills and treatment satisfaction. A study of the pilot DESMOND programme also indicated that the course for newly diagnosed individuals changed important illness beliefs.

This is particularly important in the context of the drive for pharmacy professionals to support patients’ self-management of long-term conditions. To meet the demand of modern lifestyles, these courses can be run outside of usual business hours to support people who work or have childcare issues. There are also aspects of these courses that can be viewed in DVD format or online (see Further Information).