Diabetes awareness seminar marks one year of health talks in Rochdale

Deeplish Community Centre hosted a community health seminar late last month, marking one year since the first seminar on stroke awareness was held in 2023.

The event, organised to promote health education, featured a presentation on diabetes and included free health screenings for attendees.

Dr Roukia Techache from the Northern Care Alliance Foundation Trust delivered an informative talk on Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Her presentation covered the warning signs of diabetes, management strategies, and the importance of maintaining a healthy, balanced diet.

Highlighting the relevance of diabetes in the South Asian community, Dr Techache explained that Type 2 diabetes disproportionately affects South Asians compared to White Europeans.

She noted that people of South Asians heritage often develop Type 2 diabetes at a younger age and with a lower body weight than those of white and European heritage. This early onset places a significant burden on individuals and families, impacting quality of life and healthy life expectancy.

Dr Techache further discussed the severe complications linked to Type 2 diabetes, such as kidney, eye, and heart diseases, as well as mental health challenges like depression and anxiety.

She emphasised the importance of managing diabetes effectively to prevent these conditions.

British-Bangladeshi and British-Pakistani people are particularly at risk, being five to six times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than the general population, a fact that underlined the event's significance in Rochdale’s diverse community.

In addition to the presentation, the Living Well team offered free blood pressure checks to attendees. Representatives from the Northern Care Alliance Research & Innovation team engaged the audience on two ongoing studies.

The Genes & Health study aims to improve understanding of genetic factors affecting health, while the ELSA study focuses on Type 1 diabetes in children aged 3-13.

Families were offered a simple finger-prick blood test to determine their children’s risk of developing Type 1 diabetes in the future.

Sohail, the manager of Deeplish Community Centre, expressed his gratitude to those who made the event a success. He thanked Dr Louise Tomkow for her leadership in organising health seminars, Mohammed Tariq from Rochdale Infirmary, and all attendees for their participation.

These health seminars at Deeplish Community Centre continue to play a vital role in raising awareness and empowering the local community with valuable health information.