Diabetes support programme 'changes lives'

Attendees of a diabetes support programme have credited it with transforming their lives as well as helping them tackle other health issues.

The six-week programme, which is open to residents in the west of Birmingham, is supported by Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System's £22.2m Fairer Futures Fund.

Participant Satish Kumar, 72, said: "It has brought my sugar level down, my blood pressure down, it has changed my eating habits."

While Naz Akhtar, 50, added: "I can't stress how much this has changed my life."

Mr Kumar said: "My sugar level had gone up and my consultant said he would put me on insulin and I didn't want that.

"That was the fear that led me to attending this course and it has helped me a lot.

"I feel very good for attending, this programme is really good. I would like them to continue this – it is really helping the community and putting less burden on the NHS."

Mr Akhtar said: "I was in two minds but loved it from the first day I got there. I suffer from anxiety and depression for many years almost to the point I am agoraphobic.

"I can't stress how much this has changed my life. Health-wise, I've lost weight, my sugars are better, I've halved my medicine.

"But more than that is my mental health. I'm back to my normal self almost 100%.

"Before this programme I felt like my health was on a downward spiral, but not any more."

Parveen Talwar, founder and director of Communities Engage and Thrive, which delivers the programme, said: "The testimonials we've received, it's interesting they are not just talking about the diabetes but other health conditions and also about their improvement in the mental wellbeing."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.