At work: Practice nurse manager Merle Taylor… ‘patients being diagnosed with diabetes increasing more than with any other illness’.
Camera IconAt work: Practice nurse manager Merle Taylor… ‘patients being diagnosed with diabetes increasing more than with any other illness’. Credit: Supplied/Emma Reeves

Support group launched

Staff ReporterMidland Kalamunda Reporter

She said figures from Diabetes WA showed about 2500 residents in the region were living with diabetes.

‘This is unfortunately a large number of the population putting a strain on health services because of the off-shoot of this disease.

‘Linked to diabetes is heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and all the weeks and months people spend in the public health system puts a massive strain on our hospitals and health services,’ Ms Taylor said.

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‘It is unfortunate food is so available in our modern lifestyle and that people are not active anymore.

‘Many people are grasping with the diagnosis and need to eat well and exercise.

‘We need to help people to manage the growing numbers of diabetics.’

A trained diabetes educator, Ms Taylor has been working at the North Street Medical Centre, Midland, for the past 18 years.

She said she had seen the number of patients being diagnosed with diabetes increasing more than with any other illness.

‘Support groups provide an ideal opportunity for people to seek information about living with diabetes and to meet others in the same situation and realise they are not alone,’ Ms Taylor said .

A Diabetes WA representative said such groups were a vital source of support.

The group in Midland is suitable for adults with either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.

Meetings will be held on the first Wednesday of each month, starting on March 6.

Interested people are asked to contact Ms Taylor via merle@sjstransport. com.au