Mayor chooses Diabetes UK as his charity during term of office

The mayor of Coleraine has selected Diabetes UK as his charity of choice for his term of office.

Councillor George Duddy attended the Diabetes UK Roadshow in July to be assessed for his risk of diabetes.

Mayor Duddy told The Coleraine Times: “I have always been cautious of my health and well being.

“With a history of diabetes in my family I have always known that I would need to eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly to help prevent the onset of diabetes.

“Having watched my father, who had suffered diabetes for 71 years, I am all too aware of the impact this debilitating disease can have.

“After my risk assessment at the Diabetes UK Roadshow, I have now tasked the Diabetes UK team, along with the help of Pearl Mahon our Health and Wellbeing Officer, to carry out diabetes risk assessments on Coleraine Borough Council’s staff on November 14, World Diabetes Day.

“On this day Coleraine Borough Council will also be turning blue to show support for those living with diabetes in the Borough.”

During the Diabetes UK Roadshow the volunteers discussed how passing urine more often than usual, increased thirst, extreme tiredness, unexplained weight loss, slow healing of cuts and wounds and blurred vision are all symptoms of diabetes and that if presented with any of these symptoms you should arrange to see your GP.

The total number of adults in Northern Ireland aged 17 and over living with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes is 79,072. A further 1,092 children and young people under 17 are now known to have Type 1 diabetes.

Prevalence in the Northern Ireland population is now over 4%. There are also an estimated 10,000 people who have diabetes but have not yet been diagnosed.

For further information about diabetes go to Diabetes UK website www.diabetes.org.uk or contact Coleraine Borough Council’s Health and Wellbeing Officer on 02870347171.

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