Statistically, every day in Jersey one more person is diagnosed with diabetes
National Diabetes Awareness Week takes place in Jersey this week between Monday and Saturday 9 to 14 June and Diabetes Jersey, the charity established to both raise awareness of diabetes and support those with it, through the week will draw attention via online and mainstream media, to the condition that affects one new person every day here in the Island and which, if undetected or ignored, will have very serious health consequences.
Almost every day news about diabetes is featured somewhere in the national media and the number with the condition here in Jersey (currently circa 4,500) is higher, in percentage terms, than the national average. Of that number, approximately ten per cent have Type 1 diabetes, and the others mostly Type 2.
To raise awareness of the condition, Diabetes Jersey will be publicising what it means to live with diabetes throughout the week, a highlight being that the charity’s patron, Dr Karen Kyd, wife of the Lt Governor, will be tested for diabetes on Thursday 12 June at 11.45 am at the CI Coop Pharmacy at Grand Marché, St Helier. The test is a simple finger prick and takes just a minute or two.
“Currently there is no way of preventing the onset of Type 1 diabetes which can affect children of any age but Type 2 diabetes, which largely impacts on adults, if detected early enough, can be controlled. Testing by a GP or pharmacy is a very sensible thing to do as many in Jersey are living with Type 2 diabetes and will be unaware of it,” says Diabetes Jersey’s spokesman Peter Tabb. “Testing is the key to combating Type 2 diabetes by discovering it early enough for it to be treated or, in some cases, actually reversed”. Ends.
For further information please contact Peter Tabb, tel: 07797 721275
