Type 2 Diabetes care among Afro-Caribbeans in Croydon – patient experience and resident views.

As part of a university placement with Healthwatch Croydon, student Benedict Okafor led a project commissioned to survey Afro-Caribbean patients who currently have Type 2 diabetes and reside in Croydon. This report focuses Afro-Caribbean patients who currently have Type 2 diabetes and reside in Croydon. It highlights the experience and perceptions of these residents with a focus on accessibility, cultural sensitivity and service effectiveness. This project was also done in collaboration with the BME Forum and NEC Care who helped recruit suitable candidates.

The survey looked to analyse the experiences and perspectives of Afro-Caribbean who have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and how easy they find it to interact with diabetic services. Respondents shared their experience of being referred to specialists by their GP’s or outreach groups. There was a general satisfaction with services received pertaining to diabetes care, particularly at Croydon University Hospital.

With 82 responses, this project reveals an insightful picture into how type 2 diabetes affects daily life, service engagement and general emotional wellbeing. While majority of the responses leaned towards positive experiences with GP’s and community health workers, it also found that significant barriers still exist around culturally relevant care, lifestyle advice and mental health support.

The findings from this report aim to support more inclusive and responsive diabetes care in Croydon- particularly among vulnerable communities.