Leicester East MP Keith Vaz hosted the launch of leading health charity Diabetes UK and the South Asian Health Foundation (SAFH)’s new report highlighting 16 diabetes research topics relating to the South Asian community. 

The two charities launched “Diabetes UK and South Asian Health Foundation recommendations on diabetes research priorities for British South Asians” at the House of Commons on Wednesday 17 June.  The report lays the groundwork to find out more about diabetes in South Asian people in the UK and discover why Type 2 diabetes is up to six times more common in South Asian people than the general population. 

Keith Vaz, who hosted the event, said: “There are 7171 people with diabetes in Leicester East and 45 per cent of my constituents are of South Asian origin. It is vital that diabetes research in South Asian people in the UK is carried out if we are to combat this growing health epidemic. I was delighted to attend the launch of this important report and hope that researchers around the country will take note of these guidelines and find them a useful tool when determining which issues to examine.” 

The report underlines important areas of research in people of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin in the UK. Priority topics, which are aimed at researchers and funding bodies, include lack of appropriate participation in diabetes research of South Asian people, genetics, cultural factors concerning diet and exercise, screening, prevention of Type 2 diabetes, psychological consequences of diabetes and treatment and care. 

The report is the culmination of an eight-month review by Diabetes UK and SAHF, which was carried out because of the high prevalence of diabetes in those communities. South Asian people make up four per cent of the total UK population and an estimated eight per cent of people with diabetes. In England, there are 200,000 South Asian people with diabetes. 

Dr Iain Frame, Director of Research at Diabetes UK, said: “Diabetes is one of the biggest health challenges facing the UK today with £1million an hour already being spent by the NHS on the condition. While considerable effort is invested in diabetes research we need to examine diabetes in South Asian people living in the UK in more detail. 

“It is astonishing that South Asian people in the UK are up to six times more likely to have Type 2 diabetes compared to the general population and tend to have poorer diabetes management. They are also three times more likely to develop heart disease and four times more likely to have kidney disease.  

“We don’t entirely know why this is yet but Diabetes UK and SAHF’s new report is a solid first step in the process of discovery and serves as an important guideline for researchers and funding bodies who are interested in this area.” 

Professor Kamlesh Khunti from the University of Leicester, who was Co-Chair of the Review, said: “South Asians develop diabetes at an earlier age and have higher rates of diabetes-related complications and mortality. This comprehensive review has highlighted a number of major and important gaps in research that will act as a reference guide for those involved in delivering care to people of South Asian origin and inform researchers and funding bodies about research priorities to reduce these inequalities.”