16 Years of Partnership Delivering Diabetes Education
Celebrating the role of long-term collaboration and educator expertise in improving diabetes outcomes in West Essex
For 16 years, X-PERT Health has partnered with Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust – West Essex to deliver structured education for people living with type 2 diabetes.
Over that time, the service has supported the development of a consistent, scalable approach that empowers individuals to better understand and manage their condition—while delivering measurable improvements in health outcomes.
At the heart of this success are the educators who bring the programme to life. Claire Thomas, Community Dietitian, has been delivering X-PERT education throughout this journey and reflects on the impact of the programme:
“A first-class education programme that our patients benefit enormously from.”
A Consistent Approach to Improving Outcomes
As demand continues to grow, services are under increasing pressure to improve diabetes outcomes—supporting weight management, reducing reliance on medication, and delivering preventative care at scale.
In West Essex, structured education has remained a core part of the solution. Delivered by trained healthcare professionals, the programme focuses on behaviour change, building patient knowledge and confidence, and supporting long-term self-management in a person-centred way.
The Results
The latest 12-month audit demonstrates the impact of this sustained approach.
The results speak for themselves:
Average weight loss: 3.4kg
BMI reduction: 1.3 kg/m²
Waist circumference reduction: –3.8cm (highest across participating organisations)
HbA1c reduction: –8.9 mmol/mol
In addition, 25 participants reduced or stopped diabetes medication, highlighting the programme’s role in supporting more independent self-management.
These outcomes represent meaningful improvements in both metabolic health and long-term risk reduction for people living with diabetes.
Built on Long-Term Partnership
These results are not a one-off—they are the product of a 16-year partnership built on consistency, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Over time, this has enabled:
Strong integration within local care pathways
A highly experienced and consistent educator workforce
Ongoing refinement based on real-world delivery
Recognised for Impact
This work has also been recognised nationally. In the X-PERT Health Audit Results 2025 (announced earlier this year), the West Essex service was awarded:
🏆 1st Place – Greatest Improvement in Body Weight Management at 12 Months
Find out more about the X-PERT Health Audit Results 2025 HERE
Looking Ahead
Following 16 years of service development, delivery continues under established local leadership, ensuring continuity for patients and partners.
As the service evolves, this partnership demonstrates how structured diabetes education—delivered consistently over time—can create lasting impact for both individuals and the wider health system.
Next Steps
For systems focused on improving structured education uptake, addressing health inequalities, supporting diabetes and weight management pathways, and reducing pressure on primary care, this model offers a proven and practical solution.
X-PERT can support your organisation to deliver measurable impact, based on approaches already working across the NHS.
Contact us to arrange a discussion – Email admin@xperthealth.org.uk
