The Star: November 09, 2023

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[Edition datE]
22 The Star Thursday November 9 2023
DIABETES AWARENESS
Diabetes Christchurch - Supporting
The Diabetes Christchurch Society’s theme for World Diabetes Month, November
2023 is “Education to Protect Tomorrow” and “Access to Diabetes Care”.
Now 101 years after the discovery of insulin, millions of people with diabetes
around the world struggle to access the care they need. People with diabetes
require ongoing care, diabetes education and support to manage their
complicated condition and avoid complications.
Just over 26,000 people have diagnosed diabetes in Canterbury.
Diabetes Matters
This campaign is to promote the
importance of affordable and equitable
access for all people living with diabetes
and people at risk of getting type 2
or gestational diabetes to be able to
access essential diabetes medicines and
technologies, self-management education
and information they require to achieve
optimal diabetes outcomes and to
strengthen their capacity to prevent type 2
diabetes.
Fundamental Components of
Diabetes Care include:
• Access to Diabetes Medicines: Many
people with diabetes need access to a
range of suitable medicines to manage
their condition well. These still remain
unavailable or unaffordable in many
countries.
• Access to Self-Monitoring: Blood
glucose monitoring is a fundamental
component of diabetes care. Many
people with diabetes do not have access
to the equipment and supplies they need
including Blood Glucose Testing Monitors,
Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM) and
Insulin Pumps at an affordable cost.
• Access to Education and Psychological
support: People living with diabetes need
ongoing diabetes education and mental
support to manage their condition well.
• Access to Healthy Food and a Safe
Place to Exercise: People living with or
at risk of diabetes need access to healthy
food and a place to exercise. Both are
fundamental components of diabetes care
and prevention.
What is Diabetes
Diabetes is the result of the body not
creating enough insulin to keep blood
glucose (sugar) levels in the normal range
(between 4 and 8). Everyone needs some
glucose in their blood, but if it’s too high it
can damage your body over time.
The two most common types of diabetes
are type 1 and type 2.
Type 1 Diabetes is an ‘auto-immune’
condition where the body attacks the
insulin producing cells in the pancreas.
Insulin must therefore be delivered several
times daily by injection or insulin pump.
There is no known cause and no cure to
date.
In Type 2 Diabetes your body makes
insulin but it isn’t used efficiently. This
is also called insulin resistance. As the
condition progresses, a lack of insulin may
also develop. The most common cause
is excessive body weight and not enough
Register your
CareSens meter and
claim your gift *
Scan the QR code to check out all the
benefits of registering your CareSens
meter or, visit www.doable.co.nz
exercise. For many people (but not all) type
2 diabetes may be prevented by making
healthy food choices and staying active.
Diabetes that happens during pregnancy
is called Gestational Diabetes and while it
usually disappears following the pregnancy,
it may lead to Type 2 diabetes later in life.
Symptoms of Diabetes
may include:
• Thirst
• Passing more urine
• Weight loss
• Very tired
• Mood changes
Type 1 symptoms may
also have:
• Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting
• Skin infections, thrush
• Extreme hunger
• Poor concentration and performance
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diabetes is diagnosed by blood tests
which can be organised through your
doctor. If you are very unwell you should
seek medical assistance immediately. If
you have type 1 diabetes, you will need
to manage your blood glucose levels
with insulin. Healthy eating and physical
activity will also help you stay well.
With type 2 you may start with some
135 Bay View Road, Dunedin
Phone: 03 455 4448
Email: sales@wests.co.nz
www.wests.co.nz
modifications to your diet and increase
exercise levels, treatment may also include
some oral medications, and some people
may also be placed on insulin as well.
Does It Run in Families?
If you have a blood relative with diabetes
you are more likely to develop type 1
diabetes. However Type 1 diabetes often
occurs in people who have no one in their
family with the condition.
Is there any cure for type 1 diabetes?
Currently there is no cure for type 1
diabetes. There is a lot of research going
on in the field of finding a cure for Type 1
diabetes.
Founded in 1956 Diabetes
Christchurch is a support
organisation for people living
in the Canterbury region who
have diabetes and for their
family, whanau and friends.
We offer support, diabetes
information, advocacy and
non-clinical education on all
aspects of diabetes.
We have a substantial library of
pamphlets, books and magazines about
food, exercise and other related diabetes
issues. All members receive a copy of our
“Viewpoint” newsletter which includes
information and education on all aspects
of diabetes and updates on local events,
recipes and medical devices, as well as
involvement with local, national and
international diabetes research.
Our Diabetes Christchurch membership
offers you contact with other people
with this chronic condition, exercise and
activities with our age-related support
groups and discounted diabetes related
shop products. Our friendly staff can
help you find further information about
different aspects of diabetes care or
make an appointment for our subsidised
podiatry toenail clipping service and the
community retinal screening programme.
Our diabetes shop has a wide range
of medical products, including blood
glucose testing meters, blood glucose
test strips, lancets, fingerpickers, ketone
test strips, diabetes cookbooks, a range
of continuous glucose sensors, hypo
treatments, medical grade shoes and
socks, insulin travel bags, Jok ‘n Al Jams
and Sauces, sugar free treats and diabetes/
gluten free recipe books.
Diabetes Christchurch has an armchair
exercise group led by an experienced
Introducing , the support hub
for people with diabetes
DOABLE is an initiative from Pharmaco Diabetes that’s
designed to bring people living with the challenges of diabetes
together. With loads of practical advice, tips and support, it’s
here to help you take small, DOABLE steps to improving your
health. Best of all, it’s about DOING IT TOGETHER.
Call our friendly support team on
0800 458 267
Brought to you by
ALWAYS READ THE LABEL. USE ONLY AS DIRECTED. YOUR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL WILL ADVISE YOU WHETHER THESE PRODUCTS ARE SUITABLE FOR YOU.
Pharmaco (NZ) Ltd, PO Box 4079, Auckland 1140. Supplier of CareSens Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems. 1022CS03 TAPS NP18566
*When you register your meter and join DOABLE, you will receive a DOABLE gift. DOABLE gift includes items that may assist you in
managing your diabetes (e.g., lancets, meter skin). Please refer to the Pharmaco Diabetes website for details.
DIABETES CHRISTCHURCH SHOP PRODUCTS AND INFORMATION
OPEN: 9.00am-4.00pm (Monday-Friday).
• Good Range of Wide Fitting Socks
• Timesulin Memory Lid
• Dr Comfort Fitted Shoes
• Blood Glucose Meters
• Lancets and Lancing Devices
• Sharps Containers
• Sugar Free Sweets and Treats
• Diabetes Record Books
• Diabetes Information Centre
• Advocacy and Support
• Armchair Exercise/Support Groups
• Help with Diabetes Medical Equipment
21 CARLYLE STREET, SYDENHAM,
CHRISTCHURCH, 8011.
DIABETES SHOP: (Instore and Online)
• Wests Low Sugar Drinks
• Jok’n’Al Low Sugar Jams and Sauces
• Good range of Cookbooks
• Insulin/Meter Carry/Travel Cases
• Hypo Treatments
• CGM Sensors and Insulin Pens
• Sharps Disposal
• Podiatry
PHONE
03 925-9972
WEBSITE:
www.diabeteschristchurch.co.nz