Throughout January and February 2012, a six week ‘Healthy Living with Diabetes’ course is being delivered in two Burngreave venues. The HCP-funded course is being delivered at the Yemeni Community Association and Burngreave Children’s Centre.
Sessions focus on practical ways to reduce the risk of getting Type 2 Diabetes and tips for managing the condition once diagnosed. The courses are delivered by a trained tutor in nutrition and physical activity and a local Health Trainer who is able to provide 1 to 1 support with setting health goals. The courses have proved very successful so far, with up to 15 learners attending the sessions. Sophina Asghar, the Burngreave Health Trainer, says,
“The group have really enjoyed it. They have had a chance to share their stories around diabetes and it was different to do practical things. They have learnt to be healthy in a practical way and have been able to share ideas and experiences as a group.”
When asked what the main attractions of these courses were to learners, Sophina said,
“It’s a very comfortable environment and they learn more by doing practical activities. There is less theory and it’s less time-intensive”.
Sophina is able to support learners by translating into Punjabi and Urdu, which has also increased accessibility for the course to learners who may otherwise struggle to understand.
Due to the success of these two courses, a third course is planned to take place at the Pakistani Advice & Community Association, starting at the end of February 2012. The course would appeal to individuals at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes or those already diagnosed with the condition. Individuals who care for family members with Type 2 Diabetes are also welcome to attend.
For more information or to register your interest for this course, contact Becky Gunn, Health Development Worker, on 07960 084 119.
Are you at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes?
Some of the risk factors associated with Type 2 diabetes are out of your control but you can act on others, such as being overweight, to reduce the risk of developing diabetes. You should ask your GP for a test for diabetes if you are a) white and over 40 years old or b) black, Asian or from a minority ethnic group and over 25 years old, and have any of the following risk factors:
A close member of your family has Type 2 diabetes (parent or brother or sister).
You're overweight or if your waist is 31.5 inches or over for women, 35 inches or over for Asian men and 37 inches or over for white and black men.
You have high blood pressure or you've had a heart attack or a stroke.
You're a woman with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and you are overweight.
You've been told you have impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glycaemia.
You're a woman and you've had gestational diabetes.
You have severe mental health problems.
For more information, speak to your GP or diabetic nurse or visit http://www.diabetes.org.uk.
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