An Ealing dietician was among a group of 12 graduates who completed Diabetes UK Community Champion training.

Rhia Mhajan completed the scheme, helping leading charity Diabetes UK pass its milestone of 1,000 Community Champions.

The programme is designed to promote prevention of Type 2 diabetes and help people understand their risk by creating local champions who engage people from ethnic minority groups and other socio-economically deprived communities.

They explain what Type 2 diabetes is, who is at risk, signs and symptoms, myths and misconceptions, complications, and the NHS services that are available.

Rhia said: “I want to encourage change in a community that is afraid to do so.”

Last year, the Community Champions Programme ran in seven areas, raising awareness of diabetes and Diabetes UK by organising stalls, talks, presentations and healthy living days at community centres, health fairs and local festivals.

People from ethnic minority communities can be two to four times more likely than average to develop Type 2 diabetes, yet simple lifestyle changes can dramatically reduce the risk of developing the condition or help manage it well.

Krishna Sarda, engaging communities manager at Diabetes UK, said: “Our Community Champion programme has been an incredible success because it is a model built on collaboration.

“As much as we teach our Champions about tackling diabetes, they educate us about the differences in diet, health habits and the nuances of their communities.

“Diversity in the UK is increasingly complex.

“We have so many different countries of birth, languages, backgrounds, histories and cultures, that there can never be a ‘one size fits all’ solution.

“This is why our Champions programme has such a vital role to play.”

For more information about diabetes visit www.diabetes.org.uk or call the Diabetes UK Helpline on 0345 123 2399.