Diabetes now’s the time to fight back

Together we can beat then silent assassin

Ireland is experiencing a Diabetes Epidemic!

It is estimated that 1 in every 500 Irish children have type 1 diabetes.

There are approximately 250,000 Irish people with type 2 diabetes and as many as 100,000 who have yet to be diagnosed

By 2013, it is estimated that there will be a 37% increase in diagnosed cases of diabetes

An estimated 250,000 people have pre-diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance of which 40% will develop diabetes by 2015 – if lifestyle changes are not made

These are some of the frightening fact relating to Diabetes in Ireland today.  The majority of people are only diagnosed through an acute medical event of the complications of long-term untreated hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar). 

Diabetes can be detected by a simple pin prick blood test and confirmed by a blood test in the GP surgery.  This is where the Lions Diabetes Awareness programme comes to the fore by organising a simple diabetes screening event in their locality.

This event can be on any scale, in any venue and at any time that suits the individual club to organise.

The Individual Lions club need to organise the following:

• Venue;         e.g. Supermarket, pharmacy, church hall or anywhere with a passing trade
• Nurses;        This can prove problematic as the nurses require their own Professional

Indemnity insurance.  The event will be covered by the Lions insurance but the nurses are not covered.  Nurses who are members of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation have professional Indemnity cover.  Also some nurses may be covered by their place of employment.

• Kits ;               Local Pharmacies may sponsor these, if not they should sell them to the club at

cost.

• Forms;          A form has to be filled in and signed by the person having the test to give

permission for the test to be done.

On the day , depending on the venue and the numbers expected, the club will need to set up a rota of club members to let people know about the screening and to fill in the forms etc.

Diabetes know the symptoms

• Extreme thirst
• Loss of energy
• Frequent passing of urine
• Blurred vision
• Recurrent infection
• Extreme tiredness

High risk groups for type 2 diabetes

• People who are more likely to get type 2 diabetes are those who;
• Have a history of diabetes in their family
• Are overweight
• Are older
• Take little or no physical exercise
• Have given birth to a large baby or had diabetes while pregnant

We can prevent Type 2 diabetes!

We know what we have to do!

Take more exercise – 30 minutes four times a week is the least we should do

Eat a healthy diet