New digital programme offers hope for type 2 diabetes remission across Scotland
NHS Scotland is implementing new digital technology to offer more patients across Scotland access to a life changing weight-loss programme, which will help thousands of people living with Type 2 Diabetes to achieve remission.
The programme aims to reduce long-term health risks for all participants and to ease pressure on key services.
The new Scottish Government funded National Digital Type 2 Diabetes Remission Programme is the latest development from the Centre for Sustainable Delivery’s Accelerated National Innovation Adoption (ANIA) service. It offers an innovative approach to care, delivered via digital technology that includes access to experienced behaviour change coaches.
Over 12 months, participants will follow a structured plan designed to support significant weight loss and improve health outcomes.
The programme is split into 3 stages:
- Total Diet Replacement (TDR) for 12 weeks, using nutritionally complete shakes and soups.
- Food reintroduction, gradually returning to a fuller diet.
- Maintenance phase, supporting long-term healthy habits.
Patients will attend virtual sessions with health coaches and use digital tools to monitor weight, blood pressure and blood glucose, uploading results weekly via an app.
Currently, Type 2 diabetes accounts for around 88% of all diabetes cases nationally, with more than 310,000 people living with the condition in Scotland. This figure is predicted to rise to 500,000 by 2035 and is a leading cause of amputation, sight loss, kidney disease, and heart disease.
It is estimated that treating Type 2 diabetes costs the NHS in Scotland around £1 billion each year, about 10% of its budget.
This programme will not only reduce the demand for medication and intensive interventions but will help alleviate pressure on the NHS while offering real hope for patients to achieve remission.
Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said: “I am really pleased to see this programme moving closer to supporting patients, with the potential to reduce future health complications and improve quality of life. I look forward to hearing more about its impact in the time ahead.
“This Accelerated National Innovation Adoption digital programme will reduce the need for travel to appointments, making it easier for communities everywhere to access services that can change lives.
“It aims to support patients to achieve remission within a year of enrolling, empowering them to make sustainable changes to diet and lifestyle, while helping our health and care services meet long‑term challenges.”
Anna White, ANIA Clinical Lead for the National Digital Type 2 Diabetes Remission Programme and Consultant Diabetes and Endocrinology at NHS Forth Valley said:
“This is an incredibly exciting programme with the potential to be life-changing for people with type 2 diabetes across Scotland.
“Around 35 - 45% of participants who complete the programme are expected to achieve remission.
“The opportunity to achieve remission is an important step towards better health and a future without the complications of diabetes for both individuals and the nation.”
The national digital programme will complement the face-to-face remission provision currently offered by Health Boards as part of existing local services. 3,000 patients will be able to access the digital programme across Scotland over the next 3 years following a referral from primary care.
The programme is now live in NHS Ayrshire and Arran, NHS Borders, NHS Dumfries and Galloway, NHS Lothian and NHS Orkney, with the remainder of Health Boards expected to introduce the initiative in a phased approach throughout 2026.
The ANIA programme was developed in partnership with Counterweight, led by the Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) at NHS Golden Jubilee, in partnership with the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland Health Boards.
The National Digital Type 2 Diabetes Remission Programme is the latest transformation project from ANIA.
