Diabetes is a metabolic disease that is diagnosed on the basis of sustained high concentration of glucose in the blood (Liu et al,2016). Diabetes, particularly cases of Type 2 diabetes is a growing health problem for people of South Asian descent in the UK. The likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes is reported to be as much as 6 times higher in South Asians than Europeans (Shah & Kanaya, 2014). In fact, South Asian people make up just 4% of the total UK population, but account for an estimated 8% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes (Diabetes UK,2017). With this in mind, diabetes costs the NHS approximately £10 billion/ 10% of the NHS budget (NHS,2014). Diabetes UK, have claimed that if current trends continue than the number of people with diabetes will rise to five million by 2025, and the cost of treating diabetes will spiral out of control. Prevention is better than treatment for individuals health as well as the health of the NHS (Diabetes UK,2015).
Given the elevated risk of diabetes in the South Asian population, there is a need to understand the underlying beliefs about diabetes in this population. My PhD has adopted mixed methodologies (Quantitative & Qualitative) to explore South Asian population's perceptions of diabetes risk and to investigate their knowledge, beliefs and experiences of engaging with health promotion behaviours to prevent the onset of diabetes.
Degrees
2014, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, MSc Health Psychology
2013, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, BSc Applied Psychology
Thesis/Dissertation
Vaja I. 2020. Evaluating Type 2 Diabetes Risk Perception in the British South Asian General Population: A mixed methodology approach for intervention development Newson L, Umeh K, Abayomi J. Public Url
Conference publication
Umeh K, Vaja I. 2019. Problematic diabetes risk evaluations in several cases of morbid obesity (obesity III: >= 40 kg/m(2)) compared to individuals with non-morbid obesity: A case-control study DIABETIC MEDICINE, 36 :111-111 Author Url
Newson LM, Vaja I, Abayomi J, Umeh F. 2018. Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes in South Asians: Qualitative Study Exploring Health Beliefs, Attitudes, Values and Community Perspectives. Diabetic Med, Diabetes UK, Professional Practice Confernce, 2018 35 Author Url Publisher Url
Youngman TJ, Tickle P, Vaja I. 2017. Reducing risk of Type 2 diabetes in patients with prediabetes through the National Diabetes Prevention Programme (NDPP) DIABETIC MEDICINE, 34 :122-122 Author Url
Conference presentation:
Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes in South Asians: Qualitative Study Exploring Health Beliefs, Attitudes, Values and Community Perspectives.Nomiated for Psychological Care Award, Diabetes UK Professional Conference, 2018., Excel, London, Oral presentation. 2018
Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes: Development of Cultural Specific Intervention for South Asian Adults at Risk., 13th UKSBM Annual Scientific Meeting: Working together for healthy living: Multidisciplinary behavioural medicine, Liverpool, UK, Oral presentation. 2017