NHS Low Calorie Diet Programme: Total Diet Replacement Intro

This course is ideal for those who have been referred to the NHS Low Calorie Diet Programme or have been offered a place on the programme and want to understand more about how it works but also how to implement a total diet replacement according to the NHS guidelines. The NHS offers those with Type 2 Diabetes an opportunity to place their Diabetes in Remission by referring them to the 12 month NHS Low Calorie Diet Programme which involves 12 weeks of meal replacements with soups and shakes for weight loss.

Eligible participants are offered low calorie, total diet replacement products – for example, soups and shakes which add up to around 900 calories per day – for up to 12 weeks. During this time participants will replace all normal meals with these products.

The course covers the Do’s and Dont’s of implementing a meal replacement diet and also how to re-introduce food after the 12 week initial period. We also look at what meals and foods are suitable for Type 2 Diabetics to introduce whether aiming to achieve Diabetes Remission or already in Diabetes Remission.

This programme can also be helpful for health coaches who are training to be Diabetes Practitioners or who want to understand the NHS offering better.

The NHS Low Calorie Diet Programme is based on two studies.The Diabetes UK-funded ‘DiRECT’ trial saw almost half of those who went on a low calorie diet achieve remission of their Type 2 diabetes after one year. A quarter of participants achieved a 15kg or more weight loss, and of these, 86% put their Type 2 diabetes into remission.

A more recent trial of low calorie diets, called ‘DROPLET’, has demonstrated similar weight loss in people who were obese.