With 1.1 million adult Australians diagnosed with diabetes, it is no wonder Lions International has made it the organisation's top health focus in 2019.
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"We've got 1.4 million Lions working on it," Lithgow Lions' Bill Neubeck said.
In order to help raise the profile of the chronic disease, Lions Clubs around Australia are joining together to Lap the Map.
Clubs have been hosting events in their home towns, asking people to walk and record their distances on the day. It is hoped that, all together, people would have completed enough kilometres to lap the Australian coastline.
It was Lithgow's turn on Sunday, as Blast Furnace Park hosted a Lap the Map event and family fun day.
"The idea is to raise the awarensss of diabetes as a problem - as a world-wide problem," Mr Neubeck said.
During a recent Lions survey conducted at the local shopping centre, Mr Neubeck said one out of four respondents said they had diabetes. He was one of them.
"I'd hate to think how many people in Lithgow have diabetes, some of whom may not even know they have it," he said.
People had a chance to walk a lap around Lake Pillans, have their blood sugar levels tested by Wendy Dukes from Ochre Health, and learn more about groups such as Wollemi Yoga, Sizzling Seniors and Parkrun.
See out how easy it is to check your blood sugar.
What is type 2 diabetes?
A chronic disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood. It occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or respond well enough to insulin. (Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.)
Risk factors
- Lifestyle factors: Physical activity levels, nutrition
- Family history, genetics
- Age (over 40)
- Weight
- Smoking
Symptoms
(From the Lions Australia Diabetes Foundation)
- Thirst
- Urinating more
- Feeling tired, lethargic
- Healing more slowly
- Burred vision
- Headaches
- Mood swings
- Always feeling hungry
- Itching skin infections
- Unexplained weight loss
- Dizziness
- Leg cramps
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