An initiative which aims to reduce the number of people who suffer blindness as a result of diabetes has been launched in Keighley.

A self-help and information pack has been developed to help patients keep track of their appointments and test results and record personal action plans.

It is being tested first among people aged 40 to 65 from Keighley’s Pakistani community, with South Asians being significantly more at risk of developing type two diabetes.

Behind the project are the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and NHS Airedale, Bradford and Leeds. Last year they carried out research with members of the Pakistani community and health staff, which revealed people needed to learn more about diabetes and what action they could take to stay healthy. The self-help pack was devised in response.

Greg Fell, consultant in public health for NHS Airedale, Bradford and Leeds, said: “We are pleased to be supporting and helping to develop this work. Although we can clearly see that there is a need to address avoidable sight loss, there isn’t much evidence on precisely what works. The approach we are taking is one of working very closely with affected communities and the clinicians that provide care for them to carefully test what initiatives will be most successful.”