West Limerick Resources - "Committed to the Community"

Rathkeale Diabetes Campaign

To mark World Diabetes Day on Monday November 14^th, the West Limerick Primary Health Care Project will launch a week-long series of events running from Monday November  14^th to Thursday 17^th  in Rathkeale.  Working in conjunction with the Rathkeale business community, the team hopes that the series of awareness raising and information events will help people to prevent or manage type 2 diabetes while also providing helpful tips for those living with Type 1. 

A great deal of media attention and public health campaigns recently have focused on the ever increasing rate of diabetes in Ireland today, which results from the bodies inability to convert the sugar from the food we eat into energy.  While Type 1 is an autoimmune disease which individuals are pre-disposed to from birth, Type 2 is much more related to lifestyle choices including unhealthy eating habits and lack of sufficient physical activity.  "The unfortunate reality is that many people simply don't even know that they have Type 2 Diabetes or that they are at risk of having it," explained the Primary Health Care Team.  "It is therefore important to know the risk factors which include family history, lack of exercise, unhealthy diet and being overweight and signs and symptoms such as frequent urination, weight loss, lack of energy and being very thirsty.  Untreated there are potentially series long term complications associated with diabetes and while there is no cure, it can be managed effectively through healthy eating habits and regular exercise combined with the appropriate medical care."  Anyone concerned or with questions relating to diabetes should talk to their GP or doctor and seek advice before making any changes to your diabetes treatment plan.

The week-long series of events will begin on Monday (and running each day until Thursday) in Eurospar from 10am-1pm where members of the public will be able to get general information on diabetes and healthy eating as well as sign up for a free health advice consultation which will take place in selected Rathkeale pharmacies.  Other business holding events include Gallagher's Fruit and Vegetable Shop (Offering free copies of the Food Pyramid on Monday 14^th), Essence of Life health shop (Information on Health Related Products on Tuesday 15^th), O'Sullivan's pharmacy (Health Awareness Day on Wednesday 16^th), Deel Bakery (Healthy Eating information on Thursday 17^th) and Giltenane's Pharmacy (Health Awareness Day on Wednesday 23^rd).  There will also be three draws for hampers sponsored by Essence of Life health store and Eurospar. 

Posted on 28/10/2011 by Suzanne Rowley, Information Officer