Wake Up
There are five million NHS registered diabetes patients in Britain, including children; most of whom are Diabetes Type Two sufferers. The NHS spends 10-billion-pound sterling annually, just on treating them. This number can be gradually reduced permanently, by making simple lifestyle changes. But first, everyone needs the know-how. Sports4Life Wellness organisation is funded by Sported, to educate diverse communities about why and how diabetes sets in; and how to prevent or reverse it. Visit our Sports4Life Wellness website for this information.
Most African and Caribbean people are unaware that Diabetes Type Two, has reached epidemic levels in their communities. They’re also unaware that it can be prevented from doing greater damage to future generations. At present this message is not getting through as well and as quickly as it should. Research done by Diabetes UK, shows that the UK is facing a continuous huge increase in the number of people with diabetes. Since 1996 the number of people diagnosed with diabetes has increased from 1.4 million to 5 million and rising. Most of them will have Type 2 diabetes because of rapidly rising population obesity numbers. These figures are alarming and confirm that diabetes is one of the biggest health challenges facing the UK today.
Black & Asian epidemic
Type 2 diabetes is up to six times more common in people of South Asian descent and three times more common among people of African and African- Caribbean origin. Key Diabetes in UK Key statistics show that: Among women, diabetes is more than five times as likely among Pakistani women. Three times as likely in Bangladeshi and Black Caribbean women, and six times as likely in Indian women, compared with women in the general population.
Diabetes UK surveys also found that, diabetes was generally rare among those aged 16–34; but was highest among Indian men (2 per cent), Black African men (1.7 per cent) and Irish women (1.7 per cent). People from the South Asian community are up to 6 times more likely to develop diabetes. The disease can develop from the ages of 25 in people from South Asian communities, as opposed to 40 years of age, in the white population.
For all women, if your waist is bigger than 31.5” and for South Asian men if it’s wider than 35”, it’s a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
Asians: Primary causes
Obesity is the most potent risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. It accounts for 80–85 per cent of the overall risk of developing Type 2 diabetes; and underlies the current global spread of the condition. Diabetes runs in Asian families living sedentary lifestyles. Its prevalence is also due to cultural, religious and language barriers, as well as to lack of awareness and information.
African Caribbeans: Primary causes
Office of National Statistics figures for 2022 suggest that there are 2.4 million African and Caribbeans in England and Wales. This represents 2.7% of the population (or 3.4% if we include mixed race). Black communities are at a higher risk and research has shown that awareness is lower within these communities. Primary causes are genetic damage done by Plantation Slavery and Colonialism; discrimination which causes poverty that results in poor eating habits and obesity; and a lack of awareness, due to lack of, or poor health education in schools.
PREVENTING AND REVERSING TYPE TWO DIABETES
Sports4Life Wellness provides wellness programmes that educate diverse communities how to prevent and reverse Type Two diabetes; by eating appropriately and proportionately well; eating at the right time; and eating the correct number of calories; combined with gentle exercise routines. Some Caribbean and South Asian populations worry that they will be deprived of their traditional delightful cuisines, if they adopt wellness regimes. But this is certainly not the case.
Please attend S4LW seminars for up-to-date knowledge on what we now know about preventing and reversing Diabetes Type Two. Go to www. Sports4Life wellness.