Innovative diabetes Care for African and Caribbean communities in South East London
Did you know that people of Black African and Caribbean ethnicities are two to four times more likely to have diabetes than White populations in the UK? While traditional diabetes programmes are helpful, they don’t always account for cultural differences in food, lifestyle, and habits, which can make them hard to follow.
This World Diabetes Day, we want to spotlight a trailblazing programme that seeks to address this – Healthy Eating & Active Lifestyles for Diabetes (HEAL-D). Developed by the Leicester Diabetes Centre in partnership with South East London Integrated Care Board (ICB) and people living with type 2 diabetes of African and Caribbean heritage, HEAL-D provides culturally specific diet and lifestyle guidance for African and Caribbean communities in south east London.
From portion control guides for foods like plantain, rice and peas and pounded yam (like the one attached) to reduced salt jerk chicken recipes, the seven-week programme empowers Black African and Caribbean communities to take charge of their health while enjoying the foods from their culture.