Diabetes awareness must begin at primary school (From Asian Image)

Diabetes awareness must begin at primary school

9:00am Monday 7th December 2009

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Education about diabetes for children of South Asian origin must start at primary school, according to a group of experts in diabetes and South Asian health.

The group also agreed that healthcare professionals must do more to share examples of best practice, utilise Asian media more thoroughly to promote diabetes awareness, and consider GP “mentoring” schemes to improve health professionals’ knowledge of how to engage the local South Asian community.

The calls were agreed at a Summit in Birmingham chaired by Lord King of West Bromwich, where 60 experts (health professionals, patient organisations, and representatives from the Department of Health, local Primary Care Trusts and NHS Diabetes) debated how prevention and management of diabetes in the local South Asian community could be improved. The event is the latest in a campaign of activity undertaken by the South Asian Consensus Group on Diabetes, sponsored by sanofi-aventis, which aims to improve the entire treatment pathway for this patient population.

Earlier this year, the Consensus Group produced a report showcasing best practice in engaging the South Asian community in diabetes services, and providing recommendations about how innovative approaches could be rolled out across the country. The Birmingham Summit’s recommendations will help to ensure that this best practice is shared across the city.

Lord King said, “The South Asian community has significantly higher prevalence of diabetes compared to other ethnic groups. However, despite this high rate, there is often a low take up of NHS diabetes services, and a lack of awareness about the disease and its impact.

"The meeting today came up with some great suggestions for improving access to diabetes services in Birmingham, and I look forward to seeing our recommendations come to life.

“We know that this patient population needs a specific approach to identifying, treating and managing their diabetes. I hope the recommendations we have agreed today will go a long way to ensuring all patients in Birmingham receive excellent care.”

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