21 AMs shout down diabetes myths for Diabetes Week

Twenty one AMs helped Diabetes UK Cymru shout down the myths about the condition in an event at the Senedd during Diabetes Week.

The 21 AMs helped the charity to spread the word about diabetes myths by attending the event at the Senedd, Cardiff Bay, on Tuesday 15 June to mark Diabetes Week.

Held between noon and 2pm, the event allowed AMs to learn more about diabetes myths, meet people living with the condition across Wales and learn how they could help Diabetes UK Cymru to spread the word about the myths.

These myths included:

-          Eating too much sugar causes diabetes

-          Type 2 diabetes is mild diabetes

-          People with diabetes can't play sport

-          People with diabetes can't drive

The charity hosted the event with Caerphilly AM Jeff Cuthbert to mark Diabetes Week, which is held from 13 to 19 June, and aims to raise awareness about the condition.

Nearly one in 20 people in Wales are now diagnosed with the condition - 146,000 - and a further 50,000 are thought to have the condition and not know it.

The event was held hours after the second meeting of the Cross-Party Group on Diabetes at the Assembly, which was set up in March to provide a forum for organisations, policy makers and people with diabetes in Wales

Dai Williams, National Director of Diabetes UK Cymru, said: "We were delighted to be working with Jeff Cuthbert AM to host this event and highlight the myths that still remain about diabetes.

"With more and more people diagnosed with the condition every day in Wales, it is essential that we raise awareness of these misconceptions and diabetes itself.

"Too often we hear the myths that Type 2 diabetes is not as serious as Type 1, that eating too much sugar causes diabetes and that people with diabetes can't enjoy doing sports.

"Diabetes Week and this event gave us the perfect opportunity to try to stamp out these myths for good in Wales and we would like to thank all of the 21 AMs who joined us to help spread the word."

Jeff Cuthbert AM, who has Type 2 diabetes, said: "I was very pleased to be able to host this event today in recognition of Diabetes Week across the UK.

"Too little is publicly known about the threat of diabetes and the soaring numbers of cases across Wales.

"There are a tremendous number of people with diabetes in Wales and another 50,000 more people don't know they have it.

"Ten per cent of the NHS budget is already spent on diabetes and if diabetes is not managed properly it will lead to a greater chance of chronic illnesses such as heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.  

"It is imperative that we dispel the myths surrounding diabetes and encourage those who think they are at risk or experiencing symptoms to go and see their GP as soon at possible."

For further information about diabetes, contact Diabetes UK Cymru on 029 2066 8276, email wales@diabetes.org.uk or visit www.diabetes.org.uk/wales.

You can also get in touch with the charity on Facebook and Twitter.