Can unconscious persuasion in the form of a Slimpod programme help people with type 2 diabetes to lower blood sugar levels, cholesterol and blood pressure to recommended levels?

INTERVENTION: Participants with a BMI over 25 and with a history of type 2 diabetes will be recruited by the GP practice staff for a 24‐week trial. The planned size of the sample is circa 100. Simple randomisation will occur to allocate participants to the intervention or control groups using a 1:1 allocation ratio. A computer‐run programme will generate a random number which the surgery team will assign each participant to a trial arm. The trial statistician will be not involved in the process of recruitment, randomisation, or group assignment. The intervention group will receive the Slimpod audio/visual control and its associated programme; control group participants will receive the standard NICE guideline treatment which focuses on patient education, dietary advice, managing cardiovascular risk, managing blood glucose levels, and identifying and managing long‐term complications. The Slimpod audio recording will be listened to daily and videos watched as directed by the programme. There will be measurements of HbA1c, blood pressure and cholesterol levels at three timepoints, 0, 12 and 24 weeks. CONDITION: Type 2 diabetes mellitus ; Nutritional, Metabolic, Endocrine ; Type 2 diabetes mellitus PRIMARY OUTCOME: ; Measured by clinical staff at the GP practice at weeks 0, 12 and 24:; 1. Blood pressure (systolic pressure and diastolic pressure) measured using a sphygmomanometer; 2. Blood glucose levels measured using a glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) test; 3. Cholesterol and triglyceride fats measured using a lipid profile test; 4. Weight measured in kilograms on the surgery’s scales; SECONDARY OUTCOME: Prescribed doses of medication for controlling type 2 diabetes, reducing blood pressure and lowering cholesterol levels will be measured, recorded and then analysed using anonymised data from participants' medical notes at weeks 0, 12 and 24 INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Participants must have been registered as NHS patients at the Millgate Healthcare Partnership, 119 Manchester Road, Denton M34 3RA at least 4 weeks before the commencement of recruitment 2. Age between 30 and 65 3. BMI 25 or greater 4. Diagnosed as having type 2 diabetes 5. Any ethnicity 6. Any socio‐economic grouping 7. Non gender‐specific