A new cookbook created by a group of Oldham mums and Oldham Council’s Arts Development and Public Health teams has been launched to help spread awareness about diabetes.
The Chapatti & Chat book, written by the Women’s CHAI Project, is a creative way of helping South Asian communities dish up healthy dishes and prevent adults from being diagnosed with the condition.
Women of Bangladeshi and Pakistani ethnicity are between three and five times more likely to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes than the national UK average. Pakistani and Bangladeshi men are also more likely to be diagnosed with the long-term condition that causes high blood sugar levels.
Over the last nine months the ladies from CHAI (Care, Help and Inspire), who are based at Greenhill Academy in Oldham, researched the causes and symptoms of diabetes and how to prevent the condition.
The group then worked with a nutritionist to use alternative ingredients and to tweak traditional recipes from within their local community.
The result, with the expertise and support from the local authority, is a book of 14 delicious diabetes-friendly recipes for families and friends to try at home.
Councillor Eddie Moores, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “Oldham Council has made a firm commitment to tackle diabetes as a local health priority across the borough. We want to help people to make healthy lifestyle changes that can prevent the condition developing in the first place.
“I’d like to congratulate the Women’s CHAI Project on the result of such a fantastic initiative. The cookbook is a great example of our communities caring for each other, making our residents healthier and an exciting opportunity to use arts and creativity as an effective tool in health awareness.”
Najma Khalid, founder of Women’s CHAI Project, said: “We have all learnt so much about diabetes and healthy cooking. This knowledge will not only be shared with our families but it will allow us to reach out to even more people.
“Our aim is to empower women and make a difference within their communities and families. We hope this book is one way of helping them.”
Alan Higgins, Director of Public Health in Oldham, said: “Tackling diabetes is one of Oldham Council’s main health priorities. The condition can severely damage your health and increases the chance of developing heart and renal failure, angina and blindness.
“The latest figures show that across the borough 13,888 people aged 17 plus are registered as diabetic – and this figure is expected to grow over coming years. Many are also not aware they have got the condition.
“We want to help people to make the lifestyle changes that can prevent them developing diabetes in the first place.”
The book is being distributed within a number of communities and is available to download at www.oldham.gov.uk/cookbook
