The Development of a Dietary Resource for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities in the UK to Facilitate the Improved Understanding of the Carbohydrate Content of their Traditional Foods

Diabetes is a national and global health issue. Dietary information is fundamental to the information that a person livingwith Diabetes needs in order to self-manage their condition. Carbohydrates are the food group that can exert the maximumeffect on the blood glucose levels and so it is important for people living with Diabetes to have awareness of the carbohydratecontent of the food that they are eating.Black Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) Communities are at increased risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes, they develop itat a younger age and so are more exposed to the disease burden of this condition, being more at risk of the complicationsassociated with Diabetes.A comprehensive, culturally relevant food resource illustrating the carbohydrate content of traditional foods eaten by BAMEcommunities did not exist and so these communities that are at increased risk of Type 2 Diabetes did not have access to thesame information as the wider population living with Diabetes in the UK. Two healthcare professionals working in diabetesclinics in Northwest London aimed to address this discrepancy and designed culturally relevant booklets demonstrating thecarbohydrate content of traditional foods illustrated as sugar spoons to give a simple, visual representation of the carbohydratecontent of the traditional foods. A pilot study of this newly designed dietary resource was conducted with the aim of examiningif use of this resource improved the participants knowledge, understanding and ability to estimate the carbohydrate contentof commonly eaten traditional foods.Use of the booklet resulted in improved knowledge, understanding and ability to estimate the carbohydrate content oftraditional foods eaten by BAME participants attending a diabetes Clinic in Northwest London. Demonstrating that the useof a culturally specific intervention resulted in improvements for BAME communities with Type 2 Diabetes.