Mayo diabetes forum launches Mayo Diabetes Awareness Week

TO mark World Diabetes Day on November 14, the Mayo Diabetes Forum has put together a week of planned activities and events as part of Mayo Diabetes Awareness Week from November 9 to 15.

The overall aim of the week is to raise awareness about diabetes and to highlight the importance of diabetes prevention and control. This forum is in partnership with representatives from Diabetes Ireland, Croí, general practice, HSE primary care and HSE hospital services.

One of the key messages of this campaign is early detection. Being aware of the signs and symptoms of diabetes and knowing the risk factors for developing diabetes are important messages that can have a major impact in helping to reduce the numbers of people in Mayo who may have diabetes in the future.

Next Monday (November 9), the diabetes team in Mayo General Hospital will host an information day, targeting health care workers in the hospital as well as health care colleagues in working in primary care. Members of the team will be available to share their knowledge and expertise from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the lecture hall at Mayo General.

Other members of the Mayo Diabetes Forum have scheduled a number of workshops with established groups across the county. In these workshops, individuals will be guided through the self-assessment of the type 2 diabetes score card and be supported in applying this to themselves and their families.

Identifying the associated risk factors and recognising the signs and symptoms of diabetes allows for earlier detection and in many cases the opportunity to take the necessary steps in preventing the development of diabetes.

For further information on all aspects of diabetes (signs, symptoms and risk factors) and the supports that are available, visit the Diabetes Ireland website on www.diabetes.ie or Locall 1850 909 909.