Diabetes Australia warns the thousands of Australians who don't know they have diabetes are being urged not to ignore the potential life-threatening consequences.
Diabetes Australia had yesterday unveiled a graphic advertising campaign in an attempt to curtail the alarming rise of diabetes in the country.
In an attempt to have a graphic Ad campaign, 'The Don't Ignore Diabetes', features the image of a heart that is being lifted out from a body. Members of the association have stated that people with diabetes four times more likely to have heart disease or stroke. Explaining that each day an average of 275 Australians are being diagnosed with diabetes and about 100, 000 new cases each day, which is now almost an epidemic, the National president of the association, Associate Professor Peter Little said that a very few seem to know if they were suffering from the condition or as to how serious it can be not taking the condition seriously.Professor Little said that for every diagnosed case, another Australian was probably oblivious that they could be living with the disease. He said, "If you are over 45 years and overweight and don't get checked out, the first indication that you have diabetes may be a heart attack or stroke."
The new advertising campaign to mark National Diabetes Week was kicked off yesterday with an awareness rally in which hundreds of diabetic people and their families took part in, along with the 'Barnaby Bee' the mascot for Diabetes Australia at the at Federation Square. The group is calling for all the Australians to take the disease seriously.
The campaign also includes a checklist to forewarn those who might be at risk of the disease. Professor Little further explained that it was indeed important for the people to realise that diabetes could be prevented or delayed through an improved diet and weight loss programme and being physically active and by not smoking.
