Diabetes charity holds Sea Terminal event and wants schools safer for children

An awareness event is being held at the Sea Terminal in Douglas today (Friday 13 November) from 10:00 to 14:30, ahead of World Diabetes Day on Saturday, according to Manx Radio and Isle of Man Today.

Isle of Man Today reported that the event is organised by Public Health and Diabetes Isle of Man. Visitors can meet the charity and healthcare staff, including the podiatry service, the Manx Care Advice and Liaison Service, Next Level Nutrition, Specialist Nicotine Support and the Diabetes Nursing Team. They can also fill in a questionnaire to assess their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Advice will be available for people already living with the condition.

Manx Radio reported that the charity wants educational settings on the island to be made safer for children living with diabetes. According to the station, Natasha Parry of Diabetes Isle of Man said progress had been made in schools but more could be done.

Manx Radio said 6% of the island’s population has the condition. Health and Social Care Minister Claire Christian told the station that almost seven per cent of people over 17 are on the island’s diabetes register. Isle of Man Today reported that almost 6,000 people aged over 17 are on the register, 5,547 of them with Type 2.

Ms Parry said raising awareness of symptoms and risk factors matters because “there are steps people can take to reduce their risk” of Type 2 diabetes. Mrs Christian called diabetes “an important health issue for our community”.

Isle of Man Today said people are being encouraged to learn the “four Ts” that can be warning signs: needing the toilet more often, feeling unusually thirsty, being more tired than usual and getting thinner without trying.