HEHTA (Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment) is part of the Diabetes UK Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT) which is underpinning the UK government's weight-loss plan for people living with Type 2 diabetes, details of which were reported in the media in September.

The DiRECT trial found that weight loss can put Type 2 diabetes into remission for at least two years.

Photo of person standing on scales

Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment (HEHTA) researchers Yiqiao Xin, Eleanor Grieve, Andrew Davies and HEHTA honorary Andrew Briggs conducted an economic evaluation of the Diabetes UK Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT) intervention which shows it is more effective and cost-saving in the long term in adults with type 2 diabetes compared to standard care. School of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing's Professor Mike Lean is the overall principal investigator on this, and Professor Naveed Sattar from Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences and IHW honorary Professor Ian Ford are co-investigators. 

The trial found that:

  • More than a third (36%) of participants in remission two years after weight management programme.
  • Of those in remission after one year, 70% stayed in remission.
  • Remission closely linked to weight loss: two thirds of those who lost 10 kilos or more in remission after two years.
  • Weight management programme also resulted in better quality of life and reduced need for diabetes medications, compared to standard care.

Read more about this on the Diabetes UK website

First published: 14 March 2018

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