There is a lot of work going into preventing type 2 diabetes. The NHS runs a Diabetes Prevention Programme that identifies people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes and refers them onto a nine-month lifestyle change programme. We want schools to be required to run similar programmes for students.
Change4Life was good at getting children involved, but there's so much marketing and advertising of unhealthy food that we think more is needed to reduce the risk of people getting type 2 diabetes. If children are taught at a young age they're more likely to retain information and make use of it as adults, which could help reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes, and the need for later interventions. This should improve health outcomes and save money.