Healthy Eating Strategies to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes in Birmingham

This report discusses the importance of healthy eating in preventing type 2 diabetes, particularly among middle-aged men in Birmingham, UK. It highlights that over 4.9 million people in the UK have diabetes, with a significant portion undiagnosed and at increased risk. The report emphasizes the link between low testosterone levels in men and increased diabetes risk, coupled with sedentary lifestyles common among middle-aged men. Lifestyle interventions, focusing on healthy eating, weight loss, and physical activity, are crucial in minimizing risks and mitigating genetic impacts. Barriers to care, such as lack of time due to busy schedules, are addressed, suggesting behavior change approaches to promote healthier lifestyles. The rationale includes the high cost and debilitating effects of diabetes, impacting physical and mental health, leading to various medical issues and decreased quality of life for both patients and their families. Increased integration of healthy diets and access to resources can help shift NHS budget towards mitigation of diabetes problems altogether. Public health campaigns at the government level would be the best way to implement a broad-scale and effective change. The report concludes that integrating and maintaining healthy dietary changes is integral to decreasing diabetes risks among middle-aged men in Birmingham, and increased access to resources and education can lead to better allocation of NHS budget towards diabetes prevention and management.

HEALTHY EATING TO PREVENT TYPE 2 DIABETES IN BIRMINGHAM’S
MIDDLE-AGED MEN
INTRODUCTION
In the UK, over 4.9 million people in the
UK have diabetes, and a further 13.6
million are at increased risk of developing
type 2 diabetes. There are many more
who have type 2 diabetes but have not
been diagnosed (Diabetes UK 2020).
CONCLUSION
• Increased integration of
healthy diet, and
maintenance of these
dietary changes, is integral
to decreasing the risks
among middle-aged men of
Birmingham.
• Increased access to
inpatient diabetes teams,
technology, and education
can lead to NHS budget
being allocated to diabetes
PREVENTION STRATEGY
• Healthy eating can help prevent diabetes
onset or, at the very least, significantly
reduce its risks.
• Type 2 diabetes is commonly linked to the
hormone called testosterone, with research
showing that low levels of testosterone in
men resulting in increased risk of diabetes
(Mandal 2019).
• Middle-aged men are more likely to lead a
sedentary lifestyle (Bertoglia et al. 2017;
Lemes et al. 2019; Patterson et al. 2018).
• Lifestyle interventions focusing on healthy
eating, weight loss, and physical activity, can
minimize the risks significantly and even
mitigate the impact of genetics on increased
risk of diabetes (Cardona-Morrell et al. 2010;
Galaviz et al. 2018; Schellenberg et al.
2013).
Life isn’t over because
you have diabetes. Make
the most of what you
have, be grateful.
I can
control my
diabetes.
BARRIERS OF CARE
There are various kind of barriers to care for
working-class middle-aged men of Birmingham
when provision of care for type 2 diabetes comes
into picture. First and the foremost type of barrier
to care for target population is lack of time and
their lifestyle. Due to extremely busy schedule, it
becomes difficult for them to adopt a healthy
lifestyle and eat healthy food. As a result, their
diabetes can become severe

RATIONALE
• Over 4.9 million people in the UK have diabetes, and a further 13.6 million are at increased risk of developing
type 2 diabetes (Diabetes UK 2020)
• Many go undiagnosed
• Research focused on Birmingham is minimal on this topic
• Middle-aged men are more likely to lead a sedentary lifestyle (Bertoglia et al. 2017; Lemes et al. 2019;
Patterson et al. 2018)
• Changing these behaviours can decrease their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes
• Diabetes is costly (Galaviz et al. 2018)
• It is debilitating for one’s physical health and also their mental health (Whicher et al. 2020)
• It can lead to low self-esteem, depression, discrimination at work, driving issues, and decreased sex-drive
(Diabetes UK 2017; 2019; Hackett et al. 2014)
• Medical issues emerge like retinopathy, foot disease, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease (Becker et al.
2018; Holman et al. 2012; NHS Digital 2019; NICE 2017; RNIB 2016; Whicher et al. 2020).
• Research supports implementation of healthy eating for decreased diabetes risks (Cardona-Morrell et al. 2010;
Galaviz et al. 2018; Schellenberg et al. 2013)
• Increased integration of healthy diet and maintenance is integral to helping build a healthier population of
middle-aged men in Birmingham
• Access to resources can help shift more NHS budget towards mitigation of diabetes problems altogether

Continue…
•Not only is the patient impacted by diabetes but their family, friends, and carers as well
•Worser the symptoms, the harder it becomes to manage
•I have personally seen examples of diabetes and its debilitating impacts within my own
circle of family and friends
•This is both professional and personal for me
•Lethargy, depression, joint pain, kidney problems, all become increasingly common
•Inability to perform daily tasks
•Lack of motivation
•Families have to accommodate their schedules and lives around those with serious
diabetes complications
•Public health campaigns at the government level would be the best way to implement a
broad-scale and effective change

Continue…
• There are various kind of barriers to care for working-class middle-aged men of Birmingham when provision
of care for type 2 diabetes comes into picture.
• First and the foremost type of barrier to care for target population is lack of time and their lifestyle.
• Due to extremely busy schedule, it becomes difficult for them to adopt a healthy lifestyle and eat healthy
food. As a result, their diabetes can become severe
• Their busy life style makes it much more difficult for middle aged men to focus upon their health for
managing type 2 diabetes.
• In order to overcome barriers of care and bring improvement within overall health of middle-aged men of
Birmingham.
• Behaviour change approach can be used as it is appropriate and can help in overcoming main barriers of care
for target population.
• This approach is suitable for target population because this approach helps in identifying ways in which
changes within overall behaviour of people can be brought so that they start adopting a healthy lifestyle.

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