Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Lilian Seenoi Barr, has marked National Diabetes Week by formally launching a new group to raise awareness of the condition in the Western Trust area and provide support to those living with Type 1 Diabetes.
The Western Diabetes Group has brought together members from a range of relevant agencies including the Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT), GP Federation, Ulster University, DCSDC, the NI Public Health Agency, Diabetes UK, JDRF (Type 1 Diabetes) and the Healthy Living Centre Alliance.
Mayor Barr is lighting Council Offices on Strand Road and the Alley Theatre in Strabane in blue all this week to highlight the National Diabetes Week campaign which includes a series of roadshows in local community venues across the WHSCT area to raise awareness of the risks associated with the condition.
“I am delighted to launch the Western Diabetes Group and commend the various agencies for coming together to tackle
this very serious and complex condition,” she said.
“National Diabetes Awareness Week presents an ideal opportunity to officially launch the Western Diabetes Group which is working to provide people living with, or at risk of diabetes, with the information and support to manage their condition.
“I have no doubt that the collective expertise, knowledge and skills of the Western Diabetes Group will make a positive difference to halting the rise of diabetes within our population.”
Coordinated by Developing Healthy Communities as part of the Derry and Strabane Healthy Cities initiative, the group has been established in response to the concerning levels of diabetes within the WHSCT area.
According to a spokesperson for the Western Diabetes group, nearly 18,000 people in the Western Trust area are living with of which 90% are living with Type 1diabetes.
Additionally, approximately 11,500 individuals are registered with prediabetes, also known as non-diabetic hyperglycaemia, where a person’s blood sugars are higher than usual, but not high enough for them to receive a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.
Many people are unaware of the signs, symptoms, and risks of diabetes, and accessing specialised healthcare support can be challenging due to pressures on primary and secondary health services.
The Western Diabetes Group will work with individuals living with all forms of diabetes, aiming to reduce the incidence and impact of the condition through engagement with local agencies and communities, awareness raising and delivery of prevention and wellbeing programmes and support.
To learn more about the Diabetes Services operating within the Western Health and Social Care Trust, visit www.westerntrust.hscni.net.
For more information and support regarding diabetes, visit www.diabetes.org.uk.
The Diabetes UK helpline is also available Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm on 0345 123 2399
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