The British Dietetic Association has come out in support of the NHS-approved Low Carb Program App after releasing a positive review of the platform.

The three-page report provides a comprehensive overview of the Low Carb Program; a structured education and behaviour change programme for people with type 2 diabetes, prediabetes and obesity launched in 2015. Users of the Low Carb Program have access to video lessons, handouts, recipes and a moderated online support forum.

The review has been written by Paula Gallon, Specialist Diabetes Dietitian, Solihull Community Diabetes Service on behalf of the BDA Diabetes Specialist Group.

Key findings from the BDA Report include:

The Low Carb Program gives clear video explanations of what type 2 diabetes is and a positive message about changing lifestyle for improving control of type 2 diabetes, with a wealth of practical advice and tips.

The Program accounts for a variety of dietary preferences and eating habits including vegetarian and vegan.

Increased vegetable intake is encouraged and recipes and tasty cooking methods included.

The Program is very clear about reducing sugary and processed foods.

The Program encourages cooking from scratch at home and increasing healthy whole foods such as lean protein sources, vegetables, pulses, nuts and seeds.

The Program offers practical advice for the real world such as portion size guidance, snacks, alcohol, sugary drinks and desserts, eating out and takeaways.

The Program acknowledges that change takes time and the program includes small goals and behavioral tips.

The Program provides recipes rich in fibre.

Although there may be an issue of cost, availability of foods and finding ingredients for the recipes in areas of food poverty, it is possible that some of the costs could be cancelled out by saving on takeaways, snack foods and processed foods.

The review concludes that “Following the program will support individuals to improve the quality of their diet, lose weight and likely improve their diabetes control.”

Peer-reviewed research outcomes published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research in 2018 have proven that the Low Carb Program is effective in improving glycaemic control, weight loss and reducing hypoglycaemic medications in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The paper evaluated the one-year outcomes of 1,000 people in the UK who engaged in the Low Carb Program. At one-year, the average member loses 7.4kg and reduces their HbA1c by 1.2% with 39% of patients lowering their HbA1c below the threshold for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Additionally, 40% of people eliminate at least one medication from their treatment regime and one in four people place their type 2 diabetes into remission, saving the NHS over £835 per patient, per year in medication prescriptions alone.

The Low Carb Program has disrupted and redefined the landscape of type 2 diabetes management, with Dr Campbell Murdoch, Chief Medical Officer at DDM leading the authorship of a Demedication Protocol in the BJGP earlier in July as a direct response to the thousands of patients within the platform.

The Low Carb Program App is available via the NHS library and it currently carries a ‘No Badge’ status, which means it meets NHS quality standards for safety, usability and accessibility. It also has QISMET approval for all programme streams meaning it can be prescribed on the NHS. For information and advice about providing free access to your patients through the NHS, click here.

Commenting on the review, Charlotte Summers, Chief Operations Officer at DDM said: “The Low Carb Program is scalable, engaging and effective. It’s used globally by health agencies, governments and individuals and we are encouraged to see that the BDA also recognise the benefits of the Low Carb Program to help patients improve their diabetes control.”

The BDA review of the Low Carb Program commented on several areas as “problematic”. Here are the assertions from the review together with responses from the Low Carb Program’s Chief Dietitian, Tara Kelly, RD.