“Once the awareness is out, people will get tested and more people can be helped sooner rather than later.”
That’s the message that Lloydminster Lions are seeking to bring as they recognize the need to promote wellness and share information on Diabetes. Lions member Ray Parr says they are hosting their education night to share about new technology that is available.
“People from various companies and also health care people will be there. The goal is to educate people of course on diabetes, the numbers are quite high. We want to reach out to them. We also want to let them know what new technology is out there as well because there is quite a bit.”
The May 11th event at the Legacy Centre will have information tables set up by:
- Insulin pump providers Medtronic,Tandem and Omnipod
- Continuous glucose monitoring(CGM)- Dexcom
- Flash glucose monitor – Libre
- Pen needle representative – BD
- Onion Lake Health
- SHA chronic disease team
- PCN (primary care network) chronic disease team.
Diabetes Canada estimates that in 2022, the number of people living with the illness or prediabetic in Alberta was 1.24 million and for Saskatchewan that figure is 334,000.
With respect to income and food insecurity Diabetes Canada notes,”People who are food insecure are two times more likely to live with type 2 diabetes than those who are food-secure. As household incomes decline, the probability of food insecurity increases.”
In an email to MyLloydminsterNow they add,”Healthy food is more expensive and thus, low income individuals sometimes choose to consume highly processed, less nutritious food, to balance their budget.”
Parr has been a Lions member for nearly three years and the local Lions have been hosting Diabetes information sessions since the 1990’s. He shares his concern for the increasing number of people with Diabetes as the Lions encourage education.
“The numbers are going up, with the amount of people that are out there that are not diagnosed. Our information that we try to gather and the people we try to bring together here in Lloydminster; we want to educate more people. Diabetes can start at infancy and work its way up. So when you see your doctor, ask him to get a blood test.”
The event runs from 5:30-7:30 p.m.