Posted on: 21 May 2020
Due to the impact of Covid-19, many people who have previously been categorised with non-diabetic hyperglycaemia following a blood test and are therefore eligible for the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, may not have access to a repeat blood test maintaining their eligibility (i.e. their last recorded blood test may now be 12 months + ago); for example because they are shielding, or because primary care are currently focusing on Covid-19 response.
In addition, many people with an eligible blood-reading have had their referral into the programme delayed due to Covid-19, and now have a blood test result more than 12 months old. This makes them technically ineligible for the service.
To ensure that people in these circumstances are not disadvantaged due to the impact of Covid-19, the requirement for a confirmatory blood test indicating NDH to be within 12 months will be temporarily increased to 24 months. This change will apply until 1 April 2021, at which point we plan to revert to 12 month eligibility.