Talk with your doctor urged for Diabetes Week

16.11.09

Talk with your doctor urged for Diabetes Week

Allan Moffit, Director of Primary Care from Counties Manukau Health Board, urges people with Diabetes to attend regular check ups with their doctors and practice nurses this month, or to talk to their health professionals about whether they are likely to be at risk of the disease and what actions they can take as a way to acknowledge New Zealand Diabetes Week which runs from 17th until the 23rd of November.

‘Many people might be shy to ask about health issues such as diabetes or think that diabetes is something they can’t do anything about. That is not the case says Mr Moffit as about 80% of Type 2 Diabetes diagnoses are considered preventable and all people with diabetes can have a better quality of life with good management of the condition.

According to the CMDHB Director people with diabetes can have one free visit with their GP every year. ‘It is always good to book in for your Diabetes Get Checked visit even if you are feeling well as many changes in the disease can go unnoticed for a long time and still be doing damage. Some GP Practices will also be offering screening test as part of Diabetes Week promotions.’

Diabetes numbers have risen to almost 30,000 in the Counties Manukau which remains the hot spot of highest diabetes prevalence in New Zealand.

The condition is driven by high rates of obesity and can often be prevented by lifestyle changes such as eating less fat, increasing the amount of fruit and vegetables in people’s daily diet and taking regular physical exercise.

ENDS

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