INTRODUCTION:
Type 2 Diabetes–a condition often linked to poor diet and lifestyle choices. There has been a staggering rise in Diabetes from 108 million people in 1980 to a huge 422 million people in 2014 (WHO), the current figure of patients with Diabetes today is estimated to be even higher than previous figures. What was once usually diagnosed in patients that were middle-aged, we are now beginning to see more in younger patients in their 20s and even children.
Having Type 2 Diabetes comes with its risk of complications especially if glucose levels remain uncontrolled. The complications usually develop 10-20 years after an initial diagnosis. So how does the future look for a child that is diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes? Complications of Diabetic retinopathy in their 20s? Kidney disease followed by a high risk of a heart attack in their 30s? Is this the future we want for the next generation?
The NHS is spending a staggering 10% of its budget treating Diabetes (90% of these patients are Type 2 Diabetics. That’s a huge £9 billion spent on a condition that is often preventable. This spending is predicted to rise to £16.9 billion in 2035. If with all the modern advances in healthcare and medical technology, we still can’t reduce the prevalence and cost of Type 2 Diabetes treatment then surely we need to rethink our approach to treatment and prevention
I have worked in a GP surgery for over 5 years as a Clinical Pharmacist specialising in Type 2 Diabetes and during this time I have developed an interest in diet and nutrition and exercise. Whilst training and shadowing healthcare professionals during their Diabetes consultations I soon realised a 10-minute consultation simply wasn’t enough for patients to fully understand Diabetes.
The education was even worse for South Asian patients due to language barriers and there not being enough educational material in their languages. They are often referred on to Diabetes educational courses which are often only in English and focussed on western diets. These patients glucose levels continued to deteriorate resulting in medication being increased almost after each blood test, but eventually, the medication will stop being effective at which point Insulin is initiated. This is what made me realize that we cannot expect someone to control their Diabetes if they do not understand their condition. These patients were failing to link their poor diet and lifestyle choices to their increasing glucose levels.
This is what led me to create Desi Diabetes – to help educate South Asians about Diabetes in a language and terminology that they understand. When it comes to an initial diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes I am a firm believer in what caused it could cure it – if poor diet and lifestyle choices caused it then a better diet and an active lifestyle could cure it. This is the basis of the education that I am providing in my diet and exercise classes. South Asians are 6 times more likely to develop Diabetes than other populations and there just isn’t enough accessible dietary information available to them.
Going back to basics and educating patients on the different food groups and the effect they have on our body, discussing healthy swaps, and how to continue eating South Asian foods in a healthier manner is where our focus needs to be. We shouldn’t be asking these patients to stop eating the foods they only know how to cook but educating them on how to make these meals with ingredients and methods healthier for them. There are many diets plans out there from low-calorie meal replacements to no carbohydrate diets, but what happens once these diets come to their 3-month end? What has the person learned about the dietary choices they are going to make going forward? This is why the approach to preventing Type 2 Diabetes and its complications needs to be focused on diet education that is tailored to each culture’s specific needs, we need a shift in how healthcare is presented to these patients so that we can empower them to make educated decisions on their lifestyle and dietary habits, not just for their future but also for the future of their families. This is the basis of the classes I host as well as the one-to-one weight management plans I provide.
In addition to this South Asian women are less likely to exercise often due to not knowing how to or simply not feeling comfortable in front of others. A report carried out by Sporting Equals found 74% of South Asian women are undertaking less than 30 minutes of physical activity a week, this is what led me to create a women’s only class so that these women can feel more comfortable in their environment whilst attending these classes.
I am currently providing diet and exercise classes hosted in Punjabi for South Asian patients in the West Midlands as well as a 12-week weight management service with individualized diet plans. In addition, I am providing in-house diet, lifestyle and Diabetes advice within GP surgeries for their patients.
Reference: By Kavita Sharma MPharm, PG Cert Independent Prescriber, PG Cert in Diabetes Care, Advanced Diploma in Diet & Nutrition
Type 2 Diabetes–a condition often linked to poor diet and lifestyle choices. There has been a staggering rise in Diabetes from 108 million people in 1980 to a huge 422 million people in 2014 (WHO), the current figure of patients with Diabetes today is estimated to be even higher than previous figures. What was once usually diagnosed in patients that were middle-aged, we are now beginning to see more in younger patients in their 20s and even children.
Having Type 2 Diabetes comes with its risk of complications especially if glucose levels remain uncontrolled. The complications usually develop 10-20 years after an initial diagnosis. So how does the future look for a child that is diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes? Complications of Diabetic retinopathy in their 20s? Kidney disease followed by a high risk of a heart attack in their 30s? Is this the future we want for the next generation?
The NHS is spending a staggering 10% of its budget treating Diabetes (90% of these patients are Type 2 Diabetics. That’s a huge £9 billion spent on a condition that is often preventable. This spending is predicted to rise to £16.9 billion in 2035. If with all the modern advances in healthcare and medical technology, we still can’t reduce the prevalence and cost of Type 2 Diabetes treatment then surely we need to rethink our approach to treatment and prevention
I have worked in a GP surgery for over 5 years as a Clinical Pharmacist specialising in Type 2 Diabetes and during this time I have developed an interest in diet and nutrition and exercise. Whilst training and shadowing healthcare professionals during their Diabetes consultations I soon realised a 10-minute consultation simply wasn’t enough for patients to fully understand Diabetes.
The education was even worse for South Asian patients due to language barriers and there not being enough educational material in their languages. They are often referred on to Diabetes educational courses which are often only in English and focussed on western diets. These patients glucose levels continued to deteriorate resulting in medication being increased almost after each blood test, but eventually, the medication will stop being effective at which point Insulin is initiated. This is what made me realize that we cannot expect someone to control their Diabetes if they do not understand their condition. These patients were failing to link their poor diet and lifestyle choices to their increasing glucose levels.
This is what led me to create Desi Diabetes – to help educate South Asians about Diabetes in a language and terminology that they understand. When it comes to an initial diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes I am a firm believer in what caused it could cure it – if poor diet and lifestyle choices caused it then a better diet and an active lifestyle could cure it. This is the basis of the education that I am providing in my diet and exercise classes. South Asians are 6 times more likely to develop Diabetes than other populations and there just isn’t enough accessible dietary information available to them.
Going back to basics and educating patients on the different food groups and the effect they have on our body, discussing healthy swaps, and how to continue eating South Asian foods in a healthier manner is where our focus needs to be. We shouldn’t be asking these patients to stop eating the foods they only know how to cook but educating them on how to make these meals with ingredients and methods healthier for them. There are many diets plans out there from low-calorie meal replacements to no carbohydrate diets, but what happens once these diets come to their 3-month end? What has the person learned about the dietary choices they are going to make going forward? This is why the approach to preventing Type 2 Diabetes and its complications needs to be focused on diet education that is tailored to each culture’s specific needs, we need a shift in how healthcare is presented to these patients so that we can empower them to make educated decisions on their lifestyle and dietary habits, not just for their future but also for the future of their families. This is the basis of the classes I host as well as the one-to-one weight management plans I provide.
In addition to this South Asian women are less likely to exercise often due to not knowing how to or simply not feeling comfortable in front of others. A report carried out by Sporting Equals found 74% of South Asian women are undertaking less than 30 minutes of physical activity a week, this is what led me to create a women’s only class so that these women can feel more comfortable in their environment whilst attending these classes.
I am currently providing diet and exercise classes hosted in Punjabi for South Asian patients in the West Midlands as well as a 12-week weight management service with individualized diet plans. In addition, I am providing in-house diet, lifestyle and Diabetes advice within GP surgeries for their patients.
Reference: By Kavita Sharma MPharm, PG Cert Independent Prescriber, PG Cert in Diabetes Care, Advanced Diploma in Diet & Nutrition
