University of Leicester to mark World Diabetes Day
People are being invited to learn more about Type 2 diabetes from University experts at a specialist centre in Leicester to mark an international awareness campaign.
The Leicester Diabetes Centre, based at Leicester General Hospital, will be opening its doors between 10am and 12pm on World Diabetes Day, which takes place on Monday 14 November.
BBC Radio Leicester will be broadcasting live from the centre on the day, reporting on the work being carried out as well as finding out more about Type 2 diabetes.
Delegates will be able to take part in the Leicester Risk Score to assess their risk of Type 2 diabetes, while busting the myths and learning the facts about diabetes.
There will also be a chance to quiz a panel of leading experts about diabetes and prevention, including Co-director of the Centre Professor Melanie Davies CBE.
Experts will also be manning stands with information about Type 2 diabetes, exercise and education about preventing and managing the condition.
Professor Davies said: “The Leicester Diabetes Centre is an international centre of excellence in research, education and innovation and for World Diabetes Day 2016 we are opening our doors to the people of Leicestershire.
“The focus for this year’s campaign is promoting the importance of screening to ensure early diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes and treatment to reduce the risk of serious complications. People will be able to assess their risk using our online risk score.”
Fellow Co-director, Professor Kamlesh Khunti said: “Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition linked to poor lifestyle, which if not managed properly, can lead to devastating complications, including blindness, amputations, stroke and heart disease.
“More and more people are developing Type 2 diabetes at a much younger age with cases even seen in children and young people – awareness campaigns like World Diabetes Day are important to promote the importance of improving lifestyles to reduce the risk of developing diabetes and also to promote people to be screened for diabetes.”
The Leicester Diabetes Centre is a partnership between the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and the University of Leicester.
People should email rebecca.pritchard@uhl-tr.nhs.uk to express an interest in attending the event.
The University is also lighting up its Fielding Johnson Building in blue to mark World Diabetes Day.