GRENADA DIABETES ASSOCIATION
NOVEMBER 2017
DIABETES AWARENESS MONTH
STATEMENT
November is recognized as Diabetes Awareness Month. For 2017, the Grenada Diabetes Association
(GDA) with its Branches have planned several activities throughout the Tri
island state. For Grenada, the goal is to
raise awareness of this disease and provide support to those impacted by it.
Activities organized
by GDA for the month of November include: church services; health screenings; nutrition
and diabetes management educational talks; distribution of educational
materials (with the assistance of the Ministry of Education) throughout the
school systems, appropriate for teachers to have a better understanding of Type
1 and Type 2 diabetes; social media campaign strategies; and encouraging the
public to wear blue
every Friday during the month to help raise awareness.
The IDF produces a
theme for each year’s celebration. The theme for 2017 is, Women and Diabetes – Our Right To
A Healthy Future. Three key
messages about diabetes as it relates to women are highlighted in this year’s
campaign:
All women with
diabetes require affordable and equitable access to care and education, to
better manage their diabetes and improve health outcomes.
Pregnant women
require improved access to screening, care and education to achieve positive
health outcomes for mother and child.
Women and girls are
key agents in the adoption of healthy lifestyles to improve the health and
wellbeing of future generations.
According to IDF:
·
There are currently over 199 million
women living with diabetes. This total is projected to increase to 313 million
by 2040.
·
Diabetes is the ninth leading cause of death
in women globally, causing 2.1 million deaths per year.
In Grenada 10 percent of
the adult population are living with diabetes some of which have complications
including: kidney disease, eyes complications, strokes, heart disease, nerve
damage, foot problems including amputations, impotence, skin conditions, depression
and pregnancy related conditions.
Up to 70% of cases of type
2 diabetes could be prevented through the adoption of a healthy lifestyle.
By focusing on women
and empowering them to adopt healthy lifestyles it is hoped that their
influence in the home and community would have a positive impact on the lives
of their children, husbands and significant others. So, even while empowering
our women our concerns are still very much with our men and children.
One important goal of GDA’s Executive is to increase
activism within its respective Branches.
Each parish has a team of persons who organize monthly meetings and
outreach efforts. If you would like to
become active within the GDA’s Branch in your parish, or learn more about GDA’s
efforts call 440-0888 or LIKE GDA’s Facebook page.
