June 2003

Diabetes Week challenge

Diabetes Australia-Victoria is calling on people to make history by being part of the biggest ever gathering of the Victorian diabetes community.

The organisation hopes to have 1,000 Victorians at Federation Square at 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 13 for the launch of National Diabetes Week 2003 to remind the community that 1,000 Australians are being diagnosed with diabetes each week.

There are approximately 250,000 Victorians with diabetes.

Theme of this year’s National Diabetes Week is Diabetes Epidemic: Get Tested and Know Your Blood Glucose Level, encouraging people to undergo checks by their doctor to prevent the onset of diabetes and its complications.

People may be unaware they have diabetes until serious complications arise but if diagnosed early the disease can be controlled.

Participants in the National Diabetes Week launch at Federation Square are invited to register through the Diabetes Information and Advice Line (DIAL) 1300 136 588 or by visiting www.dav.org.au.

They can then meet at Federation Square near the Melbourne visitor centre on the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets on Sunday, July 13 at 11 a.m.