British Asians being secretive about diabetes, says report

A new survey has shown that many people in the UK who originate from the Indian sub-continent and who suffer from diabetes are being secretive about their condition, potentially causing them greater harm.
The study of more than 3,700 diabetics by the charity Diabetes UK showed that 41 per cent of Asian people had kept their condition a secret, as compared with 33 per cent of white people. There are concerns that this approach to their health could put them at further risk and cause emotional distress, especially as previous studies have shown that have a significantly higher likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes than the white population in the UK.
It was also found that keeping quiet about their diabetes had a bigger effect on Asian people, with 46 per cent saying it had impacted on how they manage their condition, as compared to 27 per cent of white people. In addition, up to 37 per cent of Asian people claimed this had affected their physical or emotional health, as compared to 22 per cent of white people .
The survey also showed that 29 per cent of Asian people had stayed quiet about their diabetes because they didn’t want to feel different, while 19 per cent did so because they were afraid of discrimination or bullying .
Barbara Young, chief executive at Diabetes UK, commented “We have to ask why so many Asian people with diabetes keep it a secret. Learning to live with and managing diabetes is challenging enough without the physical and psychological impact of such a burden.”