ENNIS Lions Club are helping to raise awareness of Type 2 Diabetes, while also marking World Diabetes Day which takes place later this month. The local club in conjunction with the other 106 Lions Clubs in Ireland have launched a major initiative to put a spotlight on and raise awareness of the condition.
In response to the growing incidence of Diabetes worldwide, Lions Clubs International has adopted diabetes as a signature project. While there are a number of types of diabetes, the Lions Signature Project aims to specifically address the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Eating healthily, increasing the level of physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight all play a role in preventing or delaying the onset of Type 2 diabetes.
Club President Michael Brennan highlighted the importance of this initiative, “Diabetes is the 8th leading cause of death in the world and it is estimated that worldwide more than 460 million people have diabetes, and this number is growing.”
Club diabetes officer Kaye Faulkner is proud of the long association that Ennis Lions Club has with diabetes awareness stretching back over 20 years. Diabetes Ireland and Diabetes UK (NI) estimates that there are 340,000 individuals with diabetes in Ireland of which approximately 80% have Type 2 diabetes. The campaign for World Diabetes Day this year is focused on the role of nurses in prevention and management of diabetes and the Lions  Club strategic vision is to reduce the prevalence of diabetes and improve the quality of life for those living with Type 2 diabetes.
Kaye added that Diabetes Ireland have a simple, informative online test that takes a few minutes to complete at www.diabetes.ie/living-with-diabetes/are-you-at-risk.
Lions Clubs International have decided to highlight the Diabetes Project by setting itself a target of one million completed risk assessments by World Diabetes Day on November 14. Lions clubs Ireland have risen to the challenge.
Ann Ellis District Diabetes team chairperson added that “it is impossible to predict the level of Covid– 19 restrictions that will apply in early 2021 and therefore our plans to roll out the project will need to be flexible “
Ennis Lions club are confident that the project can create awareness of Type 2 Diabetes and greatly reduce the impact of the condition on individual health and that of our children and grandchildren.