Hundreds of people have been diagnosed with diabetes who did not realise they had the condition thanks to a pioneering project at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU).
DMU’s School of Pharmacy worked with Diabetes UK to identify and support people with Type 2 diabetes living in hard-to-reach communities in Leicester.
So far, their interventions have led to the diagnosis of 140 people who were unaware they had the condition, and supported a further 260 people with health advice.
Now the project is in line for a national accolade, having been shortlisted as Best Knowledge Exchange Initiative of the Year in the THELMAS, which recognises the best work taking place in the UK higher education sector. Co-incidentally, it is taking place during national Diabetes Week.
DMU Square Mile, which works to share the skills of staff and students with the community, joined forces with Diabetes UK for the project.
The charity believes that there are more than 3,000 people in Leicester with some form of undiagnosed diabetes, many of whom are from black or minority ethnic communities.
DMU students and researchers worked with Diabetes UK to identify those at risk and refer them to NHS for diagnosis. In the process they were able to map areas of the city with the highest prevalence of diabetes.
Diabetes UK learned how to engage hard to reach communities better and target their services more effectively in BME communities.
Dr Ketan Ruparelia, of DMU’s Leicester School of Pharmacy and lead researcher on the project said: “There is a global increase in diabetes and here in the UK it is one of the biggest health challenges facing the NHS.
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“Through our work we are now beginning to understand what specific compounds are having a positive effect for diabetes sufferers. This is something we believe will not only enhance the knowledge of local and national health services, but also through continued engagement with communities, give them the knowledge to make themselves feel better.”
Students received nationally recognised training and had the chance to work on a major research project.
Aamir Hussain, formerly a third year undergraduate pharmacy student, now first year PhD student, said: “This project has been an amazing experience for me. Not only do you fully understand the impact of diabetes, but also from the established academics you get to work with you improve an array of skills in the process.
“It’s an amazing chance to enhance so many skills, grasp a vital new understanding of diabetes, and be part of an amazing team.”
Posted on Wednesday 17 June 2015