A diet program consisting of just 800 calories per day, known as the "soups and shakes" diet, could potentially help thousands of people with type 2 diabetes put their condition into remission, according to experts.
The program, officially called the Total Diet Replacement (TDR) program, involves replacing a patient's regular diet with nutritionally complete soups, shakes, and bars for 12 weeks, followed by support to reintroduce healthy foods and maintain weight loss. Participants in the NHS program saw significant results, with a third of those who completed it experiencing lower blood sugar levels after a year and an average weight loss of nearly 16kg.
The TDR program restricts participants to 800-900 calories per day, far below the average daily intake recommended for adults—2,500 calories for men and 2,000 for women. In May, the NHS announced a £13 million investment to expand the program nationwide, potentially benefiting 50,000 people over the next five years following a GP referral.
The program costs around £1,100 per patient, making it more cost-effective for the NHS than newer weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, which cost about £200 per month and may need to be taken for years to maintain benefits.
Adults aged 18 to 65 can enrol in the program if they have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within the past six years and have a body mass index (BMI) score over 27 if they are white or over 25 if they are from Black, Asian, or other minority ethnic groups.
