Bid to raise awareness of diabetes support network

Thursday 21 January 2021

People will be able to have their risk of diabetes assessed and discuss any concerns they have, as part of a new drop-in session starting this weekend.

Diabetes Guernsey will be hosting its first drop-in morning at the EyeCare Opticians in the Arcade on Saturday, allowing people to pop in, get an initial assessment and learn more about what the charity does.

Diabetes Guernsey is designed to help people to ‘live well’ with the condition, providing support to people with all types of diabetes along with their loved ones.

Co-Chair Matt Ferguson said the drop-in is part of a wider awareness drive about diabetes.

"Often people may know of someone with diabetes or have been to school with someone who had it, but they don’t necessarily know the symptoms to look out for or how to assist someone who’s blood sugar levels are too high or too low."

Pictured: The drop-in will be hosted at EyeCare Opticians in the Commercial Arcade on Saturday between 09:00 and 13:00.

"We want to educate people on this and provide a support network for those with diabetes. You never get a break from diabetes, which can take a serious toll on your mental health, so speaking to others who understand is invaluable."

"The charity is made up of people with diabetes, so we’re in a great position to offer support to others in the Bailiwick."

Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar levels to become too high. There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 – where the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin – and type 2, where the body doesn’t make enough insulin, or the insulin doesn’t work properly.

The charity say it is hard to quantify exactly how many people in the Bailiwick have type 2 diabetes. However, the ratio of type 1 diabetes to type 2 diabetes is approximately 1:9, meaning there are likely to be over 3,000 people with Type 2 diabetes in the Bailiwiick. 

There will be a number of professionals and charity representatives at the event to greet anyone who pays a visit, including two nurses from the Diabetic Team who will be on hand to answer questions and carry out diabetes risk questionnaires. The questionnaire asks targeted questions to assess your risk level and whether you should see your GP for a more definitive test.

Pictured:  Type 2 diabetes is usually diagnosed in people over 50, however it is becoming more common in younger people.

Optician Jay Saha, who is hosting the event, will also be on hand to answer any eye-related questions, as diabetes can cause serious complications with people’s eyesight.

The drop-in will run from 09:00 to 13:00, and Mr Ferguson hopes it will start a conversation surrounding diabetes and raise awareness of the symptoms to look out for.

"If this drop-in encourages just one person who is presenting as being at risk of developing diabetes to get checked by their doctor, or inspires someone to take better control of the condition, then we will have achieved what we set out to do.

More information about the drop-in, the charity and other upcoming events can be found HERE or on their Facebook page @diabetesguernsey.