Nationally, six percent of the population suffers from diabetes. But in areas where there is a high Asian population that figure is as high as 27 per cent.

In areas with large South Asian communities, prevalence is over 16 per cent, Bolton’s Asian Pakistani population has 27 per cent and it is 19.6 per cent in Bolton’s Asian Indian population.

But now an innovative project is targeting these groups – and wants the public to get involved as ‘community champions’.

Free diabetes and heart disease checks were given to more than 100 south Asian, black and minority ethnic Bolton residents in supermarkets over two sessions in April.

The screenings, which ran at PK Foods Superstore in Blackburn Road and The Manchester Superstore in Cannon Street, came after Sister Lynne Bromley QN, from the Mandalay Medical Centre in Astley Bridge, was awarded cash from the Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) to fund the initiative.

Thanks to the £5,000 grant, Sister Bromley will spend 12 months working with Bolton’s south Asian, black and minority ethnic populations to highlight the dangers of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Attendees were given health checks to see if they were pre-diabetic or had a raised cardiovascular disease risk. This information was then shared with participants’ GPs.

Half of those screened were found to be pre-diabetic – meaning they had elevated glucose levels – with several new diabetics also discovered.

Sister Bromley said: “During the screening sessions the project team found high numbers of South Asian people with an undiagnosed high risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease and with new diabetes – which is quite worrying.

“This is a group which – due to various barriers – might not go to their GP to be diagnosed or have an NHS health check.

“We knew there was a big need. This is a part of the population which is less likely to attend services or be on medication. Part of the screening was also about consulting with people to find out why they are not attending their GP practice, so we can help future service provision.

“What was great was that the south Asian population was really on board with the screenings we offered, with people queuing up to be tested.”

The project is supported by diabetes and general medicine consultant Dr Harni Bharaj, Bolton GPs Dr Samir Naseef and Dr Liaqat Natha, practice director Inayat Omarji and Bolton Council of Mosques.

Sister Bromley has linked with Diabetes UK to deliver a community diabetes champion training programme across the ‘hot spot’ wards.

She added: “We want to find people from the south Asian community who can be trained to improve health awareness, management and outcomes in their own community.

“The aim is for them to support people who have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes or diabetes and cardiovascular disease, to improve their lifestyle choices such as food and cooking practices, physical activity and smoking.

“These champions will be able to engage with the community and make changes by working with mosques, schools and women’s groups.”

So far, about 20 people have already registered an interest in becoming a community champion.

To take part please call Mahera at the Bolton Council of Mosques on 01204 363680.

Alternatively you can email your details to admin@thebcom.org for further information.

BY Tui Benjamin