Events on diabetes prevention and education to be held
The community is invited to attend events on diabetes prevention and education.
The International Diabetes Federation has established Monday as World Diabetes Prevention Day, which falls three months before World Diabetes Day on November 14.
The Bermuda Diabetes Association will host a series of initiatives aimed at educating the public about prevention. There will be free health screenings, a lunch-and-learn and an assessment available to identify risk of prediabetes.
A spokeswoman for the association said: “The objective of Diabetes Prevention Day is to create greater public awareness of prediabetes as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes and establish a call to action for those with prediabetes to learn how to reduce their risk of progression to diabetes.”
Sarah Bosch de Noya, a registered dietitian and diabetes educator for the Bermuda Diabetes Association, added: “Our incidence of diabetes here in Bermuda, estimated at 13 per cent, is higher than the global average of 10 per cent, so any initiative to halt the rise of diabetes in our community is an important one.”
More than half a billion people (537 million) worldwide are living with diabetes and a further 541 million adults worldwide are estimated to have prediabetes, a condition where blood glucose levels are above normal but not yet at diabetes levels.
It is possible, with awareness of the condition and intervention, for people with prediabetes to return their blood glucose levels to normal. However, many people are not aware that they have prediabetes and therefore are at increased risk of going on to develop type 2 diabetes.
People who develop prediabetes have a three times higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease.
• Information from the Bermuda Diabetes Association
The Diabetes Prevention Day events will take place at the Hilton Hill Diabetes Resource Centre on 22 Princess Street in the City of Hamilton.
Free blood sugar and blood glucose testing will take place in the parking area, weather permitting, from 10am to noon. The HBA1c test indicates if a person has prediabetes.
The spokeswoman said: “This would be appropriate if you have a strong family history of diabetes and have not had blood tests recently with your GP.”
At the free lunch-and-learn, titled “Diabetes Prevention is Possible”, participants will learn about how to prevent type 2 diabetes. It will take place from 12.30pm to 1.30pm.
The presentation will be delivered by Ms Bosch de Noya, and a boxed lunch will be provided.
Advance registration is required for both events and spaces are limited.
• For more information, visit www.diabetes.bm or www.facebook.com/BermudaDiabetesAssociation, or call at 297-8427
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