Our Inpatient Diabetes Specialist Nurse, Mahen Jamookeeah  organised a day at HRI to help spread the message about diabetes prevention into communities.

According to recent figures there are an estimated 24,030 people diagnosed with diabetes in North Kirklees and Greater Huddersfield and the programme is looking to work with them, as well as helping others find out how to prevent or delay developing Type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes UK is training local Community Champions in order to help people find out their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, recommend GP appointments where necessary, and raise awareness of the risk factors of the condition. They will also support people who are already diagnosed with diabetes to better self-manage.

Through the programme, Diabetes UK trains Champions from all backgrounds to improve health outcomes for people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities, which we know can be two to four times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes. 21 per cent of Kirklees’ population is from BAME communities.

Mahen said: "It was so good to see how everyone was so engaging and willing to help those with diabetes in our community as others have previously tried but not been so successful.  It was a very motivating weekend. The feedback from the training session was very positive and we all came away feeling very excited and inspired about making a difference for those affected by diabetes in Kirklees 

"It was very inspiring, humbling and encouraging to see how committed the community champions were to help their communities in combatting diabetes."

He thanked Owen and Exec PA Linda Cordingley for helping him set up the day.

Community Champions have already worked with thousands of people elsewhere in the country to find out their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, reduce their risk, and better self-manage the condition.

The charity is training the Champions to work together with communities in schools, places of worship, community centres and health centres. The first training sessions took place here at the Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. 

Partnerships Delivery Manager at Diabetes UK, Jasmin Chowdhury, said: “It’s great to be working closely with Mahen and to hold our first Community Champions Training in Kirklees at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. The need for Type 2 diabetes to be taken more seriously has never been so urgent. We need people who are passionate about Type 2 diabetes to train up and help us tackle the condition across Kirklees and we are delighted to be working with Kirklees Council and the local clinical commissioning groups to do that. Type 2 diabetes is a serious health condition that, left undiagnosed or untreated, can lead to devastating health complications such as stroke, blindness and amputation. However, identified and managed well this doesn’t have to be the case.

“With this training now being rolled out across Kirklees, Community Champions will be making a hugely positive difference, giving people across Kirklees the best chance of living long, healthy lives.”