Diabetes attitude shift in South Asian community, says report

Cultural attitudes amongst the South Asian community towards diabetes are changing for the better, according to a report presented to the House of Lords this week.

The work by South Asian Health Foundation (SAHF) highlights that misunderstanding of diabetes in the South Asian community can be addressed by culturally-appropriate education programmes.

The report – South Asian community health education and empowerment in diabetes – demonstrates how initial assumptions and fears about the condition can be challenged by tailored community engagement events featuring debate and ‘Meethi Baatein’ (Sweet Talk), a short film on the risk factors of Type 2 diabetes.

Targeting all the main cultures across the South Asian community, 11 events were hosted by SAHF and local organisations in community centres, temples and GP practices, from Glasgow down to London.

The events aimed to address issues of awareness and understanding of diabetes across the ‘at risk’ populations in South Asian communities in the UK and were funded and supported by Novo Nordisk.

Drawing on lessons learned from the community education events organised by SAHF, the report identified evidence of the beginning of a shift in attitude towards diabetes.

In addition to a general increase in levels of awareness of the risks of diabetes and its complications, SAHF event staff experienced a new and real willingness to share experiences and concerns beyond immediate family.

Dr Kiran Patel, Consultant Cardiologist and Honorary Senior Lecturer, NHS England Area Team Medical Director and Chair of Trustees, SAHF, said: “The shift in attitude and understanding of diabetes brought about by this community engagement programme is encouraging, it has made a difference to the lives of South Asians living with diabetes, as well as their families who attended the meetings. We have also seen an increased willingness towards engaging with healthcare professionals about treatment options, which is important as early engagement leads to long-term better outcomes.”

Professor Wasim Hanif, Consultant Physician in Diabetes and Endocrinology, and Chair Diabetes Working Group, SAHF, added: “Our report sets out a number of recommendations that will help transform the lives of people living with diabetes and their close families. We saw that many South Asian communities embraced the idea of exercise classes, and there is considerable scope to deliver rapid lifestyle and dietary changes through simple messaging on easy changes that is visually expressed. The changing attitudes suggest that now is the time for healthcare commissioners, HCPs and the Third Sector to focus efforts on delivering effective interventions.” 

We saw that many South Asian communities embraced the idea of exercise classes, and there is considerable scope to deliver rapid lifestyle and dietary changes through simple messaging

Welcoming the report, Professor Jonathan Valabhji, National Clinical Director for Obesity and Diabetes at NHS England, said: “This excellent initiative provides many important insights in to how South Asian communities can be further empowered to reduce their particularly high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It also empowers those that already have diabetes to improve their self-management and so reduce their risk of developing the complications of diabetes.”

The report has issued a series of recommendations to address the specific and diverse needs of the South Asian community:

• Increased charity involvement
• Increased engagement
• Educating healthcare professionals
• Commissioning more education
• Tailoring materials
• Targeting younger people
• Targeting gestational diabetes
• Tailoring dietary messaging

To download the report, click here.