Name of research project
Leicester Changing Diabetes
What is the project?
Cities Changing Diabetes is a global partnership programme initiated in 2014 by Novo Nordisk, University College London (UCL) and the Steno Diabetes Center in Copenhagen, in response to the increase in urban diabetes. The programme sets out to drive down the health complications associated with type 2 diabetes, but also to help prevent the onset of the condition altogether.
The Cities Changing Diabetes programme encourages and supports local partners to come together to map the nature of the challenge of type 2 diabetes within their local communities, share solutions and drive concrete action to ‘bend the curve’ on urban diabetes and reduce the number of people living with the condition.
Leicester joined the initiative in 2017, becoming the first UK city and third European city to be selected to join this global programme. Led by the Leicester Diabetes Centre, the programme brings together local stakeholders and community groups to facilitate a city-wide, whole system approach to improving the lives and health outcomes for people living with diabetes in Leicester.
Leicester is a culturally and ethnically diverse city, therefore The Centre for Ethnic Health Research plays a key role as one of the primary stakeholders to ensure at-risk groups are included and programmes are culturally appropriate.
What is the aim?
As part of its collaborative working with stakeholders across the city, the overall aim of the Leicester Cities Changing Diabetes programme is to raise awareness, educate and train communities to deliver type 2 diabetes prevention and lifestyle education in Leicester City. In order to achieve this, the programme has three core work streams:
- Risk awareness and identification through the Leicester Diabetes Risk Score.
- Early prevention and environmental/public health initiatives (including evaluation and/or further refinement of existing initiatives).
- Training and sustainability of community champions.
Who is involved?
- The Centre for Ethnic Health Research
- ARC East Midlands
- Novo Nordisk
- University College London
- Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen
- Leicester City Football Club (LCFC)
- Leicestershire County Cricket Club
- Leicester Riders
- Leicester Tigers
- Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland CCG
- Local community groups
What are the benefits?
Being involved in a global programme provides a much wider network to learn and exchange examples of good practice. It has provided different partners and stakeholders in Leicester, all with different skills, to come together for one common cause. Different approaches to diabetes care and prevention can be implemented utilising different strengths across the city and hopefully reaching wider communities and numbers than traditional methods.
Contact
Sophie Leonardi
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