Diabetes Remission

Oviva Diabetes Remission is a free service that aims to help people transform their health, lose weight and put their type 2 diabetes into remission.

The programme takes place over 12 months, including a 12 week 800-850 kcal/day diet using meal replacement products such as shakes and soups. You will be supported by a diabetes clinician, or a clinician-led support group at a time that suits you. This combined with the Oviva app and online Learn platform supports you to improve your health and better self-manage your condition.

The aim of the programme is to help people lose weight, improve their blood glucose levels, reduce their risk of diabetes complications and the number of diabetes medications they need to take, and even put their type 2 diabetes into remission.

The digital programme is 100% remote, with coaching appointments happening over phone/video calls, or via secure app messaging. This means you will not need to travel to a specific location for appointments. 

You will be paired with your own personal clinician who will support you through each stage of the 12 month programme. Your clinician will provide expert, tailored one-to-one healthcare wherever you need it. You will also be closely supported by your local GP practice – for example if medicines need to be changed.

Coaching on this digital programme can happen over phone, video calls or the Oviva app.

You will have an initial consultation to help you prepare for the journey ahead and create a tailored plan just for you. During your initial consultation, you will find out more about the Low Calorie Diet phase of the programme and your clinician will be able to answer any questions you may have.

You will then start the Low Calorie Diet which lasts for 12 weeks. This means you will consume recommended shakes or soups approximately 4 times a day instead of your usual meals. These products contain all the nutrients and minerals your body needs and will provide roughly 800 – 850kcal a day. After this, your clinician will help you to reintroduce food over 6 weeks and help you build new healthy habits.

Using the Oviva app you will be able to track your weight loss, log your food diary and read weekly resources to help build new healthy habits.

For the remaining 8 months of the programme, you will work on sustaining these healthy habits to keep your weight loss and improvements to your diabetes management. If you start to regain weight, you will also have the chance to have another call with your clinician to help you get back on track.

Achieving remission involves weight loss and lifestyle changes that will improve your health. Benefits include:

• Stopping or reducing the number the medications you need to take.
• Reducing your risk of heart disease and other diabetes related complications.
• Improving your mental wellbeing.
• Helping you to sleep better and generally feel more healthy.
• Reducing your risk of arthritis, especially in your knees, hips and back.

Having the recommended shakes or soups as your Total Dietary Replacement products is a proven way to lose weight quickly and safely. At present, a low-calorie diet using meal replacements has been shown to offer the greatest chance of achieving remission of type 2 diabetes. Following the recommended plan is much easier than trying to calorie count standard meals and snacks, as often people can find it difficult to stick to the strict limit. The shakes and soups are also nutritionally complete, meaning they contain all the nutrients, vitamins and minerals your body needs to work properly.

The meal replacement products are fully funded, and free of charge to you as part of this NHS service.

The programme is entirely remote with all appointments taking place via telephone calls or through secure messaging in the Oviva app, so you don’t need to travel to a set location for appointments. This means you can have flexible appointments from wherever you are and at a time that suits you, even during the evenings or at weekends.

Download the Oviva app via the Android Google Play Store or the Apple AppStore and login using your personal login details sent to you via email. You can also log in by entering your mobile number and date of birth.

You can choose to take part in the programme digitally using our online resources and app, or you can access an offline programme if you don’t have a smartphone or would prefer phone calls. You are in control of how you’d like to take part and so you can take part in the best way for you.

We strongly encourage everyone to download the app as it will enhance your experience on the programme. The app helps you to track your food and activity (either through manual input or by connecting the app to a wearable device like a FitBit), speak with your clinician or group through secure messaging, and set and monitor goals.

The app is not compulsory and you can complete the full programme without using the app if you prefer.

Please note participants can only login and use the app once they have been provided with their login details following the enrolment call with our Patient Pathway Coordinator.

Your Patient Pathway Coordinator will send you an email with your login details and password. Follow the link to www.ovivacoach.com, and copy and paste or type in the 8-letter code in CAPITALS provided in this email.

Yes! Everyone on the programme will receive support from a UK-based clinician. This experienced clinician is assigned based on availability and language requirements.

Although the programme is designed to help you achieve remission of your type 2 diabetes, not everyone on the programme manages to achieve remission. However, many people who have taken part have said that the programme has helped them to be on less medication, weigh less and have better control over their type 2 diabetes.

The support and meal replacement products are completely free and offered as part of the NHS.

If you are eligible to join, you can be referred by your GP and in some areas you can sign up directly. Eligibility criteria can vary for each programme.

Programme participants have lifelong access to the Oviva app, online materials and any printed materials given during the programme to support them in sustaining their healthier lifestyle long after the programme ends.