Diabetes Awareness Week: How it Helps Raise Diabetes Awareness?
Diabetes is an illness that affects over 4 million people in the UK. Type 1 diabetes can develop at any age, but most frequently in children and adolescents. Type 2 is more common in adults and accounts for around 90% of all diabetes cases. There are additional forms of diabetes, such as gestational diabetes that one needs to be aware of - especially for pregnant women.
Every year, the leading diabetes charity Diabetes U.K. organizes Diabetes Week. The goal is to both create awareness about the condition through campaigns and fundraisers, as well as to encourage people to share their experiences about living with diabetes. This week usually takes place in June each year. Dozens of awareness and fundraising events take place across the UK and people of any age can take part. Most of the money that is raised goes toward funding diabetes research.
Why Is Diabetes Awareness Week Important?
Awareness is essential toward treating and preventing diabetes. Due to changes in modern lifestyles, diabetes is on track to become much more prevalent in the UK, especially Type II diabetes. Almost a million people may be undiagnosed.
Every year more than 20,000 people with diabetes die premature deaths. Diabetes is also the leading cause of blindness in the UK and over 100 amputations are performed each week due to diabetes complications.
By raising diabetes awareness, a wider audience of people will learn about the ways to prevent developing diabetes and its complications. For those already diagnosed, it is important that they have access to knowledge of best practices in order to do what they can for themselves.
Ways to get involved with Diabetes Week:
- Attend local or online events
- Make posters or signs for your windows
- Share official articles and videos on your social media
- Order a fundraising pack and host your own fundraiser like a coffee morning or sponsored walk
Diabetes medication like Byetta(Exenatide), Lantus Insulin, Metformin, and Trulicity are available to purchase online in the UK. Visit Pharmacy Planet to learn more about how to get your diabetes medication and view their helpful guidance and information sheets on how to manage the condition. https://www.pharmacyplanet.com
Authored By
HARMINDER ‘HARMY’ KAUR
BSc(hons) Pharmacy
GPhC Number: 2061107
Reviewed By
GURDEV SEHMI
BSc Pharm, MRPharmS, Independent Prescriber, Superintendent Pharmacist, Clinical Lead
GPhC Number: 2050925