A MOUTH-WATERING new cookbook created by a group of Oldham mums has been launched to help spread awareness about diabetes.

The Chapatti & Chat book has been written by the Women’s Care, Help and Inspire (CHAI) Project with help from Oldham Council’s Arts Development and Public Health teams.
It is a creative way of helping South Asian communities serve up healthy dishes and prevent adults from being diagnosed with the condition.
Women of Bangladeshi and Pakistani ethnicity are three to five times more likely to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes than the national UK average.
And Pakistani and Bangladeshi men are also more likely to be diagnosed with the long-term condition that causes high blood sugar levels.
Over the last nine months the ladies from CHAI, who are based at Greenhill Academy, researched the causes and symptoms of diabetes and how to prevent the condition.
The group then worked with a nutritionist to use alternative ingredients and to tweak traditional recipes from within their local community.
The result, with the expertise and support from the local authority, is a book of 14 delicious diabetes-friendly recipes for families and friends to try at home.
Councillor Eddie Moores, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “Oldham Council has made a firm commitment to tackle diabetes as a local health priority.
“We want to help people to make healthy lifestyle changes that can prevent the condition developing in the first place.
“I’d like to congratulate the Women’s CHAI Project on the result of such a fantastic initiative. It is a great example of our communities caring for each other, making our residents healthier and an exciting opportunity to use arts and creativity in health awareness.”

Najma Khalid, founder of Women’s CHAI Project, said: “We have all learnt so much about diabetes and healthy cooking. This knowledge will not only be shared with our families but it will allow us to reach out to even more people.
“Our aim is to empower women and make a difference within their communities and families. We hope this book is one way of helping them.”
Alan Higgins, Director of Public Health in Oldham, added: “Tackling diabetes is one of Oldham Council’s main health priorities. The condition can severely damage your health and increases the chance of developing heart and renal failure, angina and blindness.
“The latest figures show that across the borough 13,888 people aged 17 plus are registered as diabetic – this is expected to grow over coming years. Many are also not aware they have got the condition.”
The book is being distributed within a number of communities and is available to download at www.oldham.gov.uk/cookbook
Eating tasty and filling meals is not as easy when you suffer from diabetes. It seems that many foods and recipes are off limits once you are diagnosed with this blood sugar disorder. Luckily, there are more than a few diabetes cookbooks available on the market, offering a plethora of recipes for all the meals of the day. Many of these books also offer advise on how to best approach food when dealing with this condition, and how eating a particular way may lessen your need for medication.