Hospital launches #iCan diabetes campaign

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) will show its support and encourage the public of Norfolk to think about diabetes to mark World Diabetes Day by launching the #iCan social media campaign.

It is estimated that about 70,000 people in Norfolk will have diabetes by 2030.

People are encouraged to tweet and Facebook pictures of themselves carrying out activities which having diabetes hasn’t stopped them from doing or that they are doing to help, if possible, prevent them developing diabetes. Activities could be sport and eating healthily with the tag #WDD #iCan.

The campaign will be launched on 14th November at the NNUH’s Jenny Lind children’s Diabetes team World Diabetes Day event which includes sports activities, family yoga and craft sessions at the UEA as well as the Norwich Castle being lit up blue at 5:30pm. The team has exclusively invited children and young people with Type 1 Diabetes and their families.

The 40,000 people with all types of Diabetes in Norfolk are encouraged to get involved with the #iCan social media campaign.

Paul Hill Children’s Diabetes Specialist nurse commented: “We want to raise awareness of Type1 Diabetes and the management of it by celebrating what children and young people with the condition can do. The social media campaign aims to spread the word far and wide that people with Diabetes can live a normal life.”

In 2015, World Diabetes Day has become a year-long campaign to reflect the realities of people living with diabetes. For others the campaign will focus on healthy eating as a key factor in the fight against diabetes and a cornerstone of global health and sustainable development.

Note to editors
•     About 10% of the diabetes population have Type 1 and 90% have Type 2 diabetes. It is estimated that there are more than 2.25 million diabetes patients in the UK.
•     Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person’s blood sugar (glucose) level to become too high. The hormone insulin – produced by the pancreas – is responsible for controlling the amount of glucose in the blood. There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 – where the pancreas doesn’t produce any insulin; Type 2 – where the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or the body’s cells don’t react to insulin.
•     A healthy lifestyle could prevent up to 85% of type 2 diabetes, healthy eating can help reduce risks.
•     A healthy diet containing leafy vegetables, fresh fruit, whole grains, lean meat, unsweetened yogurt and nuts can help reduce a person’s risk of type 2 diabetes and reduce complications in people with diabetes.
•     More of us will develop and live with type 1 diabetes. While type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented, a healthy lifestyle is an important part of effective management of the disease.
•     Encouraging healthy eating habits in young children is key to halting the rise of the diabetes epidemic. By ensuring the health of future generations, we take a step toward ensuring sustainable development.