DMU student stars in BBC diabetes documentary

A De Montfort University Leicester DMU student was featured in a BBC special of the “diabetes epidemic” facing the NHS.

Inside Out examined the rise in cases of Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to lifestyle and is largely preventable. It makes up 90% of cases, and costs the NHS £10billion a year in treatment and care for patients, many of whom suffer complications such as renal failure and amputations.



Tabassuma Akramul, who is a third year Biomedical Science student, is a volunteer with #DMULocal’s diabetes project. She is one of scores of students who have been trained as Diabetes Community Champions with Diabetes UK. They help to find and help people who may be at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes is a subject close to her heart – her father was diagnosed nine years ago and many of her aunts and uncles have the condition. The programme followed Tabassuma through her work with community champions and showed the assessment process as her mother Naznin, who was at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, is tested.

Tabassuma was filmed for the programme at her home as well as at volunteering events like the Leicester Mela and a community fete, just some of the events which she attends as part of her commitment to Diabetes UK.

She said she hoped that the programme had helped raise awareness of the condition and how serious the consequences of diabetes can be.

“As a community champion my aim is to raise awareness about diabetes and help people at risk to improve their quality of life. All of us champions need to help them find out how to take care of themselves properly, follow a healthy diet and make small changes to get more active and make a big difference in their lives.

“Being involved with Diabetes UK gave a huge impact and change in my life. I used to be shy and introvert, but now my communication, presentation, team working skills and confidence level boosted a lot.”

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Programme makers chose Leicester because it has one of the highest incidence rates of Type 2 diabetes in the country. This is partly due to its diverse population, as people from the South Asian community are genetically predisposed to developing the condition, according to Dr Kamlesh Khunti from Leicester Diabetes Centre.  Some 20,000 people a year are diagnosed in the city.

Nationally, Public Health England has forecast the number of people in the UK with diabetes could top five million, largely due to the rise in obesity. Some 10% of the NHS budget already is spent treating diabetes which experts believe could rise to 17% by 2035.

Chris Askew, chief executive of Diabetes UK, said: “As things stand we are certainly looking at a crisis in diabetes which threatens to bankrupt the NHS if we continue with these current trends.”