RESEARCHERS in the western suburbs have found that 17 years after being diagnosed with diabetes, some people still don't understand what the disease is.

Over the past 12 months, the research and development team at the Australian Community Centre for Diabetes in StAlbans has been visiting ethnic communities that are most vulnerable in identifying and managing the disease.

Centre research director Kerry Bennett said groups most at risk had low levels of literacy and education, and high levels of unemployment.

"They're facing such disadvantage that they can't afford to go to the doctor or buy medicine. They will buy the cheapest food, which is often McDonald's for breakfast, lunch and dinner."

The team is working with members of ethnic communities to identify common myths and misconceptions about diabetes and figure out how to dispel them.

They have also been holding presentations in various mother tongues, which are tailored to be culturally suitable.

"It's emotional work," Professor Bennett said. "We did a presentation to a cultural group recently where of the 64 people (and they weren't selected to attend because they had diabetes), 44 of them had it."

After another session, she was approached by a woman who had skin sores, was going blind and was due for a liver transplant. She came to thank the professor because it was the first time someone had provided diabetes information and advice in her mother tongue in the 17 years since she was diagnosed.

She was happy she could now educate her children about the disease.

"Another woman stood up in front of 60 people from her own community and, from what we had translated, said: 'Before I started these [educational] sessions I wanted to kill myself', and everybody was crying by this stage. The woman added: 'In the 19 years I've had diabetes, nobody has told me anything. Now I know what's happening and I can help other people'.

"The tragedy in these migrant and refugee communities is overwhelming."

Professor Bennett said many refugees were from countries with food shortages, and earlier migrants came from cultures where there was a strong emphasis on eating. Research had shown that visiting ethnic groups in school halls, community centres or places of worship was more effective than broad advertising campaigns.

Another problem was that people with diabetes needed to see a range of specialists in different places, including a GP, nurse educator, nutritionist and someone who could devise a physical activity program.