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There’s no better time to be tested for Type 2 diabetes than during the national awareness week.
National Diabetes Week is running in Jersey between Monday and Saturday 12 to 18 June and will draw attention to the condition that affects one new person every day here in the Island and which, if undetected or ignored, will have very serious health consequences.
Almost every day news about diabetes is featured somewhere in the national media and the number here in Jersey (currently circa 4,500) is higher, in percentage terms, than the national average. To raise awareness of the condition, Diabetes Jersey, in cooperation with two leading pharmacies, will be inviting anyone, male or female, who is overweight, does little exercise and might already have diabetes somewhere in the family, to be tested for Type 2 diabetes.
During the week there will be free testing at the Castle Quay Pharmacy from Monday to Friday from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm and Saturday from 9.00 am to 12 noon. Testing will also take place at the CI Coop Grande Marché, St Helier, on Monday and Tuesday between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm and Wednesday and Thursday between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm at Grande Marché, St Peter. The test is a simple finger prick and takes just a minute or two.
“Type 2 Diabetes is a condition which, if detected early enough, can be controlled but with, statistically, one new person every day being diagnosed with the condition, testing by a GP or pharmacy is a very sensible thing to do as many people in Jersey are living with Type 2 diabetes and are unaware of it,” says Diabetes Jersey’s spokesman Peter Tabb.
“We are delighted that two leading pharmacies will be offering free testing during this diabetes awareness week since, in previous years several hundred people have availed themselves of free testing. Testing is the key to combating Type 2 diabetes by discovering it early enough for it to be treated or, in some cases, actually reversed."
