Learn more about diabetes this week

Diabetes Awareness Week is 14 – 20 July. Each year the focus is on the prevention of diabetes and its complications with a specific spotlight. This year’s it is ‘Diabetes by Ages and Stages’. As diabetes spans a lifetime, this theme concentrates on the diabetes lifecycle and on fitting diabetes around the life of the person suffering from diabetes, not the other way around.

The Australian Diabetes Council, which is organising the awareness week, has produced the ‘Ages and Stage with Diabetes’ booklet, which contains tips and information on practical ways that people with diabetes can manage their condition and how the complications and risk factors can be significantly reduced. It is available from 15 July to download or by calling 1300 342 238 for a printed copy.

The most common forms of diabetes are Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. People with Type 1 diabetes are insulin dependent. There is no known cure or preventative treatment. Type 2 diabetes is preventable, yet each day 275 Australians are diagnosed with this serious disease. A further 700,000 Australians may have undetected Type 2 diabetes. The biggest risk factors are being overweight, lack of exercise and an unhealthy diet.

Activities during the week include a ‘Diabetes and Sustainable Populations Forum’ for health professionals and policy makers, street banners promoting diabetes awareness and an advertising campaign on radio and television.

Related blog:

• The ages and stages of diabetes – by Lamees Kaoutarani