Last Wednesday night, Celebrity Operation Transformation featured Gerald Kean and Karl Spain, both with Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Ireland welcome the focus on type 2 diabetes and the highlighting of complications that arise from this condition.
One of the main contributory factors to the Type 2 epidemic is increasing obesity and that is why we welcome the focus being put on type 2 diabetes by the Celebrity Operation Transformation team”, said Sinead Powell, Senior Dietitian with Diabetes Ireland.
According to Sinead “It is clinically proven that losing weight improves diabetes control and we suggest to those with diabetes that are overweight, an initial weight loss target of 10%, at a gradual loss of 1-2lbs per week”. Sinead added that “Weight loss from around the stomach is especially helpful in controlling diabetes and for men a waist measurement of 37 inches or under is a preventative step to avoiding Type 2”. Gerald Kean weighed in at 19st 7lbs and Karl Spain at 19st 4.5lbs. We would be very hopeful that Karl, Gerald and all of the leaders meet and exceed their target.
The number of people with diabetes in Ireland is growing each year. There are 854,165 adults over 40 in the Republic of Ireland at increased risk of developing (or have) Type 2 diabetes 1 and over 1.1 million adults in Ireland that need to change their diet and exercise habits in order to avoid chronic disease.
Karl Spain is determined to lose weight and reports “I’ve been off fizzy drinks for six months. I blame them for my diabetes. I feel better and I sleep better since giving them up”. Karl and Gerald’s eating and exercise plan are live each week on the Operation Transformation website, and are available for the public to follow. You can view short videos on how to prepare the meals and do the exercises, as well as a recommended weekly shopping list. We recommend our diabetes community view these plans prepared by Dietitian, Aoife Hearne.
We are hoping that the programme will increase awareness of the risk factors and symptoms of type 2 diabetes so that more people can avoid developing the condition. Many people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes may have already had up to 12 years exposure to high blood glucose levels and have health complications on diagnosis. Knowing the symptoms and risk factors of diabetes provides people with essential knowledge to protect themselves against future problems.
Diabetes Ireland, in partnership with MSD, has a series of free pharmacy screenings running across Ireland September-December and we get an average 10% detection rate of raised glucose levels that warrant referral for further testing. Details are available on our website at www.diabetes.ie/national-diabetes-screening-roadshow and we urge those at risk to visit us at one of these events. If you have Type 2 diabetes and want to get involved or organise an activity around Celebrity Operation Transformation, visit www.ot.rte.ie/get-involved.
“For people at high risk of developing, and for those who have, Type 2 diabetes, Diabetes Ireland also recently launched an online education course called Diabetes Smart (www.diabeteseducation.ie), which will provide you with the knowledge you require to make those lifestyle changes today. For people with Type 2 diabetes, we also run a structured education programme called CODE, which involves 4 x 2 hour sessions over 6 months for small groups of people in local communities nationwide under the mentorship of a dietitian or diabetes nurse specialist. They are free to attend so take the first step today and register your interest. Simply, telephone 01 842 8118” concluded Sinead.
References
- Healthy Ireland Survey by the Department of Health