The NHS has unveiled an innovative tech initiative to help people who are most at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. According to Pharma File on Wednesday, the news coincided with World Diabetes Day, which was on Tuesday.

The novel scheme will see more than 5,000 patients in eight areas of England enrolled. They will each be tested and monitored using apps that track physical activity and other health data.

Five companies will provide their devices for the trial; these include wristbands that provide feedback to mobile devices and a six-week mobile and desktop digital programme that measures sleep and helps with healthy eating. Researchers hope to establish whether digital interventions like these can offer a cost effective means of preventing high-risk patients from developing type 2 diabetes.

Duncan Selbie, chief executive at Public Health England, commented: "This breaks new ground to help those at risk of type 2 diabetes quite literally take their health into their own hands. Many of us use on-the-go digital technology every day and this is a logical next step in diabetes prevention."

Simon Stevens, the CEO of NHS England, added: "So much else in our lives is now about online social connection and support, and that now needs to be true too for the modern NHS. This is the latest example of how the NHS is getting practical and serious about supporting people to stay healthy".