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

Abstract

J St John and Salma Mehar

Diabetes is a national and global health issue. Dietary information is fundamental to the information that a person living with Diabetes needs in order to self-manage their condition. Carbohydrates are the food group that can exert the maximum effect on the blood glucose levels and so it is important for people living with Diabetes to have awareness of the carbohydrate content 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 it at a younger age and so are more exposed to the disease burden of this condition, being more at risk of the complications associated with Diabetes. A comprehensive, culturally relevant food resource illustrating the carbohydrate content of traditional foods eaten by BAME communities did not exist and so these communities that are at increased risk of Type 2 Diabetes did not have access to the same information as the wider population living with Diabetes in the UK. Two healthcare professionals working in diabetes clinics in Northwest London aimed to address this discrepancy and designed culturally relevant booklets demonstrating the carbohydrate content of traditional foods illustrated as sugar spoons to give a simple, visual representation of the carbohydrate content of the traditional foods. A pilot study of this newly designed dietary resource was conducted with the aim of examining if use of this resource improved the participants knowledge, understanding and ability to estimate the carbohydrate content of commonly eaten traditional foods. Use of the booklet resulted in improved knowledge, understanding and ability to estimate the carbohydrate content of traditional foods eaten by BAME participants attending a diabetes Clinic in Northwest London. Demonstrating that the use of a culturally specific intervention resulted in improvements for BAME communities with Type 2 Diabetes.

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