Official launch of the Language Matters for Diabetes guidelines for Pakistan, ‘Meethay Bol’

The DiaDeM team are proud to be partners in this excellent new Language Matters for Diabetes guideline that provides practical examples of common phrases that can be substituted with others and tips for a more healthy and positive communication between health care professionals and people living with Diabetes.

The purpose of ‘Meethay Bol’ (translated as ‘Sweet Words’) was to create a version of Language Matters specific to Pakistan.

Language Matters has evolved as a concept across diabetes over the last few years and continues to gain strength.

​The language used by healthcare professionals (HCP’s) can have a profound impact on how people living with diabetes, and those who care for them, experience their condition and feel about living with it day-to-day. At its best, good use of language; verbal, written and non-verbal (body language) which is more inclusive and values based, can lower anxiety, build confidence, educate and help to improve self-care. Conversely, poor communication can be stigmatising, hurtful and undermining of self-care and have a detrimental effect on clinical outcomes. The language used in the care of those with diabetes has the power to reinforce negative stereotypes, but it also has the power to promote positive stereotypes.

​People with diabetes internalise messages from the media, from those around them, but most of all from their healthcare providers. When these messages are perceived negatively, whether it is intended or not, this can lead to feelings of shame, guilt and resentment. People who are ashamed of a condition will find it much harder to engage and manage that condition proactively.

The guides provide practical examples of language that will encourage positive interactions with people living with diabetes and subsequently positive outcomes.

​We highly recommend taking a moment to read the guide.

Read Meethay Bol

BIDE host international conference on diabetes in Karachi

The NADEP (National Association of Diabetes Educators of Pakistan) Diabetes Foot Conference 2023 held in Karachi from August 25th to 27th highlighted crucial discussions on diabetes education and management in Pakistan.

The event featured notable speakers, including international experts, who emphasized diabetes policy development, preventive strategies, leadership in diabetes care, and the evolution of diabetic foot care.

The conference provided hands-on training and workshops addressed diverse topics like injectables in diabetes, the impact of soft drinks, foot-related exercises, surgical interventions for diabetic foot issues, diabetic foot ulcer prevention and promoting healthy lifestyles.

Pictured above: Prof. Abdul Basit providing an inaugural speech. Director, Baqai Institute of Diabetology & Endocrinology (BIDE) &  Prof. of Medicine, Baqai Medical University (BMU)

To enhancing collaboration in diabetes care the conference facilitated significant Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) between:

BIDE and Roche Pharma

BIDE and Green Star

The event concluded with an awards ceremony to honor outstanding research contributions.

Pictured above: The team at Baqai Institute of Diabetology & Endocrinology (BIDE)

Thanks to Amna Mansoor at BIDE for providing this news story.

Whether in-person or online participants are enjoying the CADA Implementation Science Summer School.

From 17 – 21 July, the Centre is hosting a CADA Implementation Science Summer School in York. The Summer School has been funded by the NIHR Global Health Research Cohort Academic Development Award (GHR CADA).

Day 1: CADA Implementation Science Summer School – Prof Kamran Siddiqi presenting to virtual and in-person attendees.

Wider local teams in South Asia (SA) are attending online/hybrid sessions and the Early/Mid Career Researchers (EMCRs) attending in person will also relay the training to their local teams, further expanding the impact and establishing a network of EMCRs working in SA implementation science.

Team KMU attending the CADA course online remotely from Peshawar, Pakistan. Early & mid career researchers from various Institutions & organizations from South Asia are actively contributing in CADA summer school’s group works and discussion remotely.@IMPACT_NIHR @DiaDeM_NIHR pic.twitter.com/sV77Hltf5U

— Faiza Aslam (@faizaaslam_RMU) July 17, 2023

Day 2 included an important focus on health economics as well as time spent working in groups responding to a ‘mock’ funding call.

💻Day 2 of the CADA Implementation Science Summer School – after a session on #HealthEconomics first thing from Simon Walker @CHEyork, the day has been spent working in groups on a proposal for a ‘mock’ funding call #C4ITraining pic.twitter.com/Dqx6M8Flv7

— Centre for IMPACT (@IMPACT_NIHR) July 18, 2023

On Day 3 we were delighted to welcome Jun Xia, Co-Director of Nottingham Ningbo GRADE Centre and Systematic Review and Clinical Practice Guideline Lead, to provide training on guideline development including a focus on meta-analysis.

@IMPACT_NIHR implementation science workshop @HealthSciYork @NIHRglobal CADA scholars are learning how to do #meta_analysis and assess risk of bias @EdinUniUsher @RESPIREGlobal @DiaDeM_NIHR @theinitiativepk pic.twitter.com/Hx9ZGQj9fV

— Kamran Siddiqi (@Kamsid66) July 19, 2023

To maximise networking opportunities, this summer school overlaps with the:

• TIIDE Dissemination Event – 24 & 25 July – NIHR DiaDeM and IMPACT South Asia Group, and UKRI/NIHR IMPASS and UKRI TB Multimorbidity programmes
• Centre for Impact Annual Meeting – 26, 27 & 28 July

Both events take place next week at the University of York’s Ron Cooke Hub.

We thank all our presenters for supporting the delivery of this great training opportunity.

Looking forward to the blog writing session from the Mental Elf tomorrow.

Award background

The NIHR Global Health Research Cohort Academic Development Awards (GHR CADA) application was led by DiaDeM‘s Prof Richard Holt and Dr Faiza Aslam, in collaboration with the training leads of the Centre for IMPACT (Prof. Sameen Siddiqi) and the CONTROL programme (Prof. Saeed Farooq). It proposed an interactive training programme  “Implementation Science Summer School: Addressing Mental and Physical Health Together”.

The NIHR Academy is responsible for the development and coordination of NIHR academic training, career development and research capacity development. It plays an important role in strengthening capacity in global health research, providing opportunities and funding initiatives to develop and advance global health research career pathways and supporting the next generation of future leaders.

The NIHR GHR Cohort Academic Development Award (GHR CADA) scheme offers NIHR GHR Programme Training Leads (or Directors/Principle investigators (PIs) where there is no training lead in place) an opportunity to tailor a programme of activities to meet the academic training and career development needs of the cohort of NIHR GHR Academy members in their NIHR GHR Programme awards (primarily focussed on those who are LMIC based) and, where training needs align, with other NIHR GHR Programme awards. Individuals can apply to the GHR CADA scheme for funding to undertake a programme of activities. Applications are light-touch and will be assessed in an open competition.

In June, York based Centre member, Professor Najma Siddiqi travelled to Pakistan to meet with colleagues and explore new healthcare partnerships in Karachi.

The visit was hosted by Professor Zainab Samad, Chairwoman of the Department of Medicine at Aga Khan University (AKU) and our Centre for IMPACT Director. Time spent in Karachi was dedicated to learning more about the team at Aga Khan University. The Aga Khan University Hospital, Main Campus, Karachi was established in 1985 and is one of the principal teaching sites.

The purpose of the visit was also to scope out the potential to expand the Centre for IMPACT’s Mental Health theme to include other partners based in Karachi including:

• The Pakistan Institute of Living and Learning (PILL) – global leaders in mental health research. PILL is dedicated to promoting optimal physical and mental health in infants, children, youth, their families, and communities for healthy psychosocial functioning and development. Professor Simon Gilbody is leading a NIHR RIGHT programme grant application on ‘Tobacco cessation for people with severe mental illness’, in which PILL are co-applicants.
• SINA – a not-for-profit healthcare trust that has established 38 primary care clinics in the most impoverished areas of Karachi. Since its inception two decades ago, SINA has emerged as the pioneer of primary care in the city, making it an essential part of Karachi’s healthcare system.

Whilst in Karachi, Najma was also able to spend time at the DiaDeM Programme‘s trial site at the Baqai Institute of Diabetology & Endocrinology (BIDE). The ability to spend time at the DiaDeM trial sites was an extremely helpful opportunity to share knowledge and trouble shoot in the early stages of the DiaDeM trial as the roll out of the behavioural activation intervention gets started.

Research Grants Presentation at the Rawalpindi Medical University

Before flying back to the UK Najma extended her visit beyond Karachi, making time to present to colleagues at the Rawalpindi Medical University (RMU) in a session on ‘How to get involved in internationally and nationally funded research?’ organised by the Research Grant Management Office at RMU. As part of the presentation Najma covered a range of topics including:

• Finding a research grant
• Applying for a research grant
• Managing & reportinging a grant

The session was well attended with particular attention paid to the need for research contracts and finance expertise for a number of aspects of the research grant cycle including both understanding specific funder rules as well as forecasting and budgeting skills. A top tip from Najma was to establish relationships with funders and to always read the ‘small print’!

When asked how she managed to fit everything in, Najma asked us to extend our thanks for the great support she received from hosts at Aga Khan which meant she was able to make such efficient use of her time and fit in so much great work.

Photo: Prof. Najma Siddiqi presents at Rawalpindi Medical University.

Poster: Advertises Prof. Najma Siddiqi’s presentation at Rawalpindi Medical University.

Main article photo credit: ‘Morning of Karachi’ Karachi, Pakistan – Photo by usama tayyab on Unsplash

The DiaDeM team continues to demonstrate best practice in how to work effectively with the community to inform health research.

On the 31st of May, the DiaDem team in Pakistan hosted their 6th Community Advisory Panel (CAP) meeting at the Institute of Psychiatry, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi.

Ms Naila Sadaf chaired the meeting, with a busy agenda designed to provide an opportunity for many of the research team to get involved in presenting to CAP members.

Ms. Kousar Ishaq (Senior Researcher) explained the results of the feasibility trial and Ms. Nida Afsheen (Research Fellow) provided more detailed information about the DiaDeM behavioural activation intervention.

Ms. Rubab Ayesha (Senior Researcher) went on to explain the purpose of the quarterly newsletter that the team are producing. The newsletter was then the subject of an interactive activity where CAP members provided helpful feedback about the newsletter contents.

Photo: CAP members discuss the newsletter.

The DiaDeM main trial is going very well so far and Ms. Anum (Research Fellow) was able to update the CAP with the latest trial news.

Early career researcher leadership

The DiaDeM Programme’s leadership team always make sure that early career researchers are given the opportunity to present and receive the valuable feedback from the community by their active participation in these meetings. This opportunity is much appreciated by junior members of the research team.

Photo: Ms. Rubab Ayesha (Senior Researcher) explaining the purpose of quarterly newsletter.

Photo: Ms. Kousar Ishaq (Senior Researcher) explaining the results of the feasibility trial.

The DiaDeM study sites in Pakistan are shown below.