Henry Smith MP is proud to support World Diabetes Day, an international campaign aimed at raising public awareness about both preventing the condition and also better managing treatments.
Commenting, Henry said:
“Diabetes is a medical condition that affects many in society and needs to be recognised. Today marks World Diabetes Day, a campaign led by the International Diabetes Federation. The campaign hopes to engage millions of people worldwide in diabetes advocacy and awareness, making sure diabetes is kept firmly in the public spotlight. Local residents will benefit from the Government’s reform of healthcare, particularly in the area of diabetes. For the first time, health priorities will be determined locally and not by central government.
“While type 1 diabetes is hereditary, type 2 diabetes can be prevented from regular exercise and a healthy diet. The Health Department’s Change For Life campaign can help local residence get advice on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle to avoid obesity and cardiovascular related diseases. Exercise lowers your risk of heart disease, a condition which is common in people who have diabetes.
“This Government’s diabetes action plan to better support diabetics will set out the actions the NHS will be taking to increase identification, improve prevention and treatment of diabetes, and will be published later this year. The Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes Strategy will outline how the healthcare system can improve outcomes for people with — or at risk of — Cardiovascular disease. The strategy will consider the whole of the patient pathway from prevention through to long-term care. As diabetes is a major risk factor for Cardiovascular disease, it will be considered as part of the strategy's development.”
World Diabetes Day was created in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization in response to growing concerns about the escalating health threat that diabetes now poses. World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations Day in 2007 with the passage of United Nation Resolution 61/225.
For further information: http://www.idf.org/worlddiabetesday/about