Diabetes rates are higher in Mandurah than the national average

MANDURAH has diabetes rates higher than the national average.

According to the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS), 5440 Mandurah residents are living with the disease.

This is six per cent of the population, higher than the national average of 5.3 per cent.

Diabetes WA is running a free information session for people who have been living with type 2 diabetes, people who have just been diagnosed, carers and people at risk of diabetes.

The Connect with Diabetes session will help people to better understand diabetes and the importance of self management, and to make small changes to live a healthier life with their family.

Diabetes WA operations manager Sophie McGough said the Connect with Diabetes events not only helped people to engage with their diabetes but importantly connect with quality local services that can help with all aspects of diabetes.

“Type 2 diabetes can be easy to ignore if you’re busy and there are few symptoms, but day to day management is very important to long-term health,” she said.

“The Connect with Diabetes session aims to bring diabetes back to the front of mind,”

“Even if only one per cent of those people came to the Connect with Diabetes session and learned something that helped them, they could reduce the impact that type 2 diabetes could have on their quality of life, enabling them to spend more time with loved ones in the future.”

During the Connect with Diabetes event, Silver Chain and 360 Health will describe how their local services can help Mandurah residents with their health. WA Primary Health Alliance will explain and answer questions about the new My Health Record program. The Connect with Diabetes event is coming to Mandurah with the support of City of Mandurah, Diabetes WA and the NDSS. Bookings are essential. Visit DiabetesWA.

WHAT: Connect with Diabetes session

WHERE: Mandurah Senior and Community Centre

WHEN: Tuesday, August 14