Diabetes Awareness

District Chair    Bernadette Craig      email

Diabetes is the epidemic of the 21st century and the biggest challenge confronting Australia’s health system

* 280 Australians develop diabetes every day. That’s one person every five minutes *  Around 1.7 million Australians have diabetes. This includes all types of diagnosed diabetes (1.2 million known and registered) as well as silent, undiagnosed type 2 diabetes (up to 500,000 estimated)  source * More than 100,000 Australians have developed diabetes in the past year * For every person diagnosed with diabetes there is usually a family member or carer who also ‘lives with diabetes’ every day in a support role. This means that an estimated 2.4 million Australians are affected by diabetes every day * Total annual cost impact of diabetes in Australia estimated at $14.6 billion source Diabetes is the leading cause of preventable blindness in Australia. source There are more than 4,400 amputations every year in Australia as a result of diabetes. Annually, more than 1,700 people with diabetes die as a direct result of foot ulcers and lower limb wounds. source People with diabetes are between two and four times more likely to develop heart disease. source Close to 320,000 hospitalisations for cardiovascular and/or kidney disease with diabetes per year. source

Good news  - type 2 diabetes may be delayed, and in some cases even prevented, by adopting a healthy lifestyle. And if you have diabetes, you can live a long an healthy life with the right management strategies.

Diabetes and Sight Loss

People living with diabetes are at risk of developing diabetes related complications and our work aims to reduce these risks.

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of vision loss in adults of working age (20 to 65 years) in industrialized countries.

The Lions Eye Health Program addresses one of these diabetes related complications, diabetic retinopathy.

Lions are helping educate the world on the need for diabetes research, programs and health initiatives.  Our goal is to reduce these statistics in the coming years through service, investment, and kindness.

Lions Eye Health Program      vision programs

occurs when the pancreas can’t produce insulin. This happens usually because the body’s immune system destroys the cells that make the insulin (beta cells). Type 1 diabetes an auto-immune condition and not related to lifestyle behaviours CONTACTS                FACT SHEET  1   2                  VIDEO  symptom include blurred vision constanly/excessively thirsty   constantly hungry             cuts heal slowly feeling dizzy feeling tired & lethargic headaches  itching,skin infections leg cramps mood swings pain or tingling in hands or feet passing more urine DKA -  type one  auto immune disease  in children thought to be as high as 1 in 23  -   aged between 4 -16 years    DKA is a 'preventable' complication of type 1 and can occur easily in children at diagnosis if the signs of high blood glucose aren't recognised CONTACTS               FACT SHEET 1   2                       VIDEO symptoms include  -   top 4  are listed first 1    Thirst 2   Tired   3    Toilet (frequently) 4    Thinner ( loosing weight rapidly)   abdominal pain confusion                       difficulty breathing  dry skin fatigue flushing of the skin fruity odor to the breath- caused by ketones nausea vomiting     good idea to also have child's eyesight tested occurs when the body resists the effects of insulin and cannot make enough insulin to maintain blood glucose levels within the target range. This leads to high blood glucose levels CONTACTS                  FACT SHEET                    PROGRAMS            VIDEO symptoms - same as Type one -  people may have diabetes and not notice the symptoms until their blood glucose is over 15mmol/L or they may just disregard the symptoms as part of getting older CONTACTS                                 FACT  SHEET 1      2                    VIDEO Some risk factors          aged over 40 years         family history of type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes  above the healthy weight range      polycystic ovarian syndrome    woman given birth to a child over 4.5 kgs  Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent

 If you have any of these, please consider having an assessment with a health care professional asap. 

Please also consider having a thorough health assessment at least once a year.

Lions and Diabetes Awareness

Lions are involved with the Diabetes Awareness and Action Programs.

Our work supports diabetes awareness, education, control, prevention and research.

Lions Medical Research Foundation  - gestational Diabetes  Dr Olivia Holland

Lions Australia Diabetes Foundation

Australian programs

Lap the Map (LTM) - on Saturday morning 14th November 2020 - how to get involved

We are calling for Australians to join us and ‘Lap the Map’ for diabetes prevention

Lions Clubs across the country will be hosting family friendly walks and community events. We are promoting healthy lifestyle and raise awareness of the Diabetes epidemic in Australia. Check with your local Lions club  or look for locations using the Google mapping 

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Resources

Video - how are you going to fight Diabetes                Bernadette Craig's Diabetes message Aug 2020

Lions empowering service -diabetes   https://youtu.be/z21yfmdxly8       

Lions make mark on world diabetes day   https://youtu.be/-vP5wd9JwZI

Images    for more images contact Peter Wilkes      marketing@lionsq3.org.au 

Sample media release           Resources list               Exercise tips

Web

Lions Global cause -diabetes                                      https://www.lionsclubs.org/en/give-our-focus-areas/diabetes

MD 201 Strategy Document for Diabetes 2019 - 2021   https://lionsclubs.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/MD201-Lions-Australia-Diabetes-Strategy.pdf

Lions- diabetes project ideas                                     https://lionsclubs.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/gst1A.pdf

Organisations

Diabetes Qld https://www.diabetesqld.org.au/

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

National Diabetes Services Scheme https://www.ndss.com.au/about-diabetes/resources/

#LionsLapTheMap     #LionsDiabetesAwareness 

Q 3  Lions Global Causes - Diabetes Chair 

Bernadette Craig 

diabetes@lionsq3.org.au