PATIENTS with Type 2 diabetes who took part in an “inexpensive” NHS run weight-loss scheme were half as likely to require medication, a Glasgow study found.

Health experts have called for more funding for “under-resourced” weight-management schemes after the first trial of its kind world-wide in the city.

One participant lost almost three stones in weight and was able to stop his daily insulin injections.

People categorised as obese, with a body mass index of 30 or more, took part in a 16-week scheme run by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in partnership with Weight Watchers combing healthy eating, exercise and behavioural changes.

Researchers found that patients who successfully completed the programme had no increase in their diabetes medication, and were half as likely to progress to insulin as those who didn’t take part.

They were also more likely to maintain the weight loss over a three year period than those who didn’t take part.

Type 2 diabetes is a serious, lifelong condition where blood glucose levels are too high because the body doesn’t make enough of a hormone called insulin and is associated with older age and obesity.

Patients who were not referred, or did not successfully complete the programme, required increased amounts of oral diabetes medications over the following three years.

Ian Armstrong, 71 from Eaglesham, in East Renfrewshire, was able to stop his insulin completely after the scheme and lost 17.9kg in weight.

He said: “Contact with the Glasgow and Clyde Weight Management Service has given me the best help I’ve ever had in terms of information and strategies to help me have a longer and healthier life.”

Although a minority of people achieved the 5kg weight loss, researchers believe more investment would improve the accessiblity of the scheme.

Dr Jennifer Logue, lead author of the study from the University of Glasgow, said: “Currently weight management programmes in the NHS are under-resourced.

“Our hope is that this study will convince patients, clinicians and NHS managers that these inexpensive programmes can make a clinically significant difference to patients with type 2 diabetes.”

Dr Linda de Caestecker, Director of Public Health for NHSGGC said: “We are working with the author Jennifer Logue in redesigning our weight management programme, including the commissioning of free commercial weight management programmes such as Weight Watchers.”

Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell said: “I welcome the findings of this study that shows NHS Scotland weight loss programmes are having a long lasting, positive impact on this deadly disease.

"That’s why, last month, I announced over £40 million of new investment to deliver almost 100,000 supported weight management interventions for people with, or at risk of, Type 2 Diabetes. 

“We’re also consulting on a package of bold measures in our new Obesity Strategy that are designed to help people make healthier choices and empower personal change.

"These include restricting the promotion of food and drink high in fat, sugar and salt and ground-breaking strategies on alcohol and tobacco.”