Lions clubs in the Battlefords are getting involved in a province-wide diabetes detection program with two screening events planned for April.
To be held Monday, April 28 at St. Paul's Anglican Church in North Battleford, then again on Tuesday, April 29 at the Battleford Lions Club House, both events will run from 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.m.
Available at both events will be free, confidential type 2 diabetes risk assessments.
"The object of the risk assessment is to increase awareness of diabetes, provide diabetes education and implement a call-to-action for individuals classified as high risk for developing type 2 diabetes in Saskatchewan," says Lion Audrey Reid.
According to the Canadian Diabetes Association, there are 90,000 people diagnosed with diabetes in Saskatchewan, which is one in 13 residents. By 2020, there will be 111,000 diagnosed in Saskatchewan - a total of 34 per cent of the province's population living with diabetes or pre-diabetes.
Lion Gail Morgan says, "Many people are unaware they are at risk for diabetes. Early detection means reduced or even the delay of serious complications."
The Lions Diabetes Detection Program will not only identify those at highest risk for developing type 2 diabetes but will provide those at high risk with a pathway to receive care.
Diabetes has a huge impact on the personal wellbeing of individuals and has a huge impact on the financial costs to individuals and to taxpayers of Saskatchewan, states a release issued by Lions Club International and the Canadian Diabetes Association.
The economic impact of diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate, says the release. In 2010, the combined direct and indirect costs of diabetes to the Saskatchewan health care system was $419 million with an expected increase of over 27 per cent to $535 million by 2020.
The serious and costly complications of diabetes are responsible for over 80 per cent of diabetes health care costs. If diabetes goes undiagnosed or poorly managed, glucose levels remain elevated, which will gradually damage organs, until they fail entirely:
80 per cent of people with diabetes die from a heart attack or stroke.
Over 40 per cent of new kidney dialysis patients have diabetes.
Diabetes retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in Canada.
Seven of 10 non-traumatic limb amputations are the result of diabetes complications.
The life expectancy for people with type 1 diabetes may be shortened by as much as 16 years.
The life expectancy for people with type 2 diabetes may be shortened by five to 10 years.
Diabetes threatens an individual's mental health and ability to self-manage. People with diabetes are often overwhelmed or frustrated by the demands of managing their disease. Depression is more common and is associated with poorer self-care and poorer blood glucose control, leading to increased diabetes complications.
Diabetes must be diagnosed early and managed well in order to delay or prevent the serious complications, costly hospitalization and specialized medical care and indirect costs of diabetes on the economy. Access to diabetes medication, health care providers, devices and supplies is critical for individuals to manage their disease.
