Working with the community to help people with diabetes in Slough

Diabetes UK Community Champions in SloughSix newly recruited Community Champions are helping to make a difference across Slough by increasing awareness, prevention and self-management of diabetes.

The Champions, who are all from ethnic minority backgrounds, have been recruited as part of a community project which has been commissioned by NHS East Berkshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), and is being run by Diabetes UK.

Slough has the highest prevalence of diabetes in the South East, with 8.9% of people living with a diagnosis. Slough also has a high proportion of BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) patients.

People from South Asian, African and Caribbean communities are two to four times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than White Europeans. They are at greater risk at lower levels of BMI (Body Mass Index) and at an earlier age.

In Slough, the number of people diagnosed with diabetes has increased by 6% since last year – to 10,491.

The role of a Champion is to help to educate and raise awareness of diabetes and Diabetes UK by organising local events, and delivering presentations and talks. They will be able to explain what Type 2 diabetes is, who is at risk, signs and symptoms, myths and misconceptions, complications, and the NHS services that are available to people locally; including the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NHS DPP). They will also inspire others to help reduce their risk of diabetes, or to manage their diabetes better.

Vanita Dutta, Commissioning Support Officer for Cardiology and Diabetes at NHS East Berkshire Clinical Commissioning Group said:

“The Community Champions provide an invaluable link between the CCG and the community and will be an excellent way to spread messaging around Type 2 diabetes prevention and self-care of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.”

Talking about the impact Champions would have on the delivery of the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme in the region, Vanita said:

“We are taking a holistic approach to Type 2 diabetes prevention in our region and the NHS DPP and the Community Champions are an important part of that. We hope that the Champions will be one way to promote the NHS DPP in the community; they will be key in engaging those that may be at risk to take up the offer of the Programme if they are given the opportunity.

“As well as increasing take up in the Programme, we are working in partnership with the Champions to ensure the programme is fit for the community of East Berkshire; this will include working with us and service providers to ensure the content of the programme is relevant to BAME groups.”

Krishna Sarda, Engaging Communities Manager from Diabetes UK, said:

“We are delighted to have been commissioned by East Berkshire CCG to run the Community Champions programme in Slough. We are equally delighted to have six Community Champions now on board, with others in the pipeline to join.

He added: “Community Champions are our ambassadors at a local level. They bridge the gap between local communities and healthcare settings, signpost people to services, and engage with communities to help them understand their risk of diabetes and actions to take, whilst helping those diagnosed to get better health outcomes.”