Have you been screened for Diabetes? Are you at risk?
Are you aware of the serious side effects this disease has when not controlled? Consider glaucoma, kidney failure, heart problems. possible gangrene with the loss of lower limbs. Diabetes can be controlled but detection is required.
Everyone is at risk but the largest proportion of those found with diabetes are over 40. They are over weight and have little or no exercise regime. There are symptoms which are recognisable by the patient - sudden loss of weight, excessive thirst and the subsequent use of the loo, tiredness and blurred vision, to name but a few.
How are diabetics found? There are many places to have a simple blood test, your doctor or practice nurse, some high street pharmacies including now, Lloyds Pharmacy.
Diabetes Awareness is a major Lions Clubs project, we must continue by whatever safe and insured methods we can to arrange screenings.
The arrangement between Lloyds and the Lions in Multiple District 105, has now expanded to the whole of the British Isles with a similar scheme to be arranged for Ireland . This will enable Clubs to continue or resume from where they left off some years ago due to lack of sufficient insurance. Some Clubs were able to continue with help from those Doctors who offered their own insured personnel to carry out the screenings and they should, if the offer is still available, continue carry out this necessary service.
Lions, given the tools now available, are able to continue this very necessary service within our community. Now is the chance for those Clubs who have not been involved before to start now.
Lions are working with both Lloyds Pharmacy and Diabetes UK, both have many and varied leaflets and handouts giving details of who is at risk, how to deal with diabetes without letting it disrupting your life, Diet, travel and driving.
Between the three of us, Lions Clubs, Lloyds Pharmacy and Diabetes UK, we can work together to find possible diabetics and guide them in the right direction to be treated and avoid those side effects above.
At present we are told that there are 2.1 million diagnosed diabetics rising to 3 million by 2010 but with still 1 million not diagnosed, the missing million!
Lion Keith Hedges
Multiple District Diabetes Education Programme Co-ordinator
