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Our organization is aimed at all people with diabetes.
It tries to encompass all diabetic patients together.
But in fact our organization has another specialty
because diabetes is a disorder that spreads throughout society.
So we do not just invite diabetic patients to our organization
but also people who have relatives with the disease
or who want to learn about diabetes.
Because they may contract diabetes any time, anywhere –
either themselves or their relatives.
This possibility exists.
Our organization was founded in 1994.
Since then, we have been trying to educate people with diabetes
and to increase awareness of diabetes in society.
Why are we doing this?
We want to send a message to our leaders:
diabetes is very important, diabetes is an expensive disease
and in order to reduce these costs,
a campaign is required to best tackle the issue.
Measures should be taken to prevent diabetes,
the treatment of diabetes can be more effective
and studies can be done about related complications.
Also there can be studies on how to avoid diabetes.
We, the Cyprus Turkish Diabetes Association,
have started a campaign called “Diabetes is Preventable”.
With our campaign, we travel around regions
and try to raise public awareness of the disease,
promote a healthy diet
and basically teach people how to avoid diabetes.
When people come to us, their blood glucose is checked,
height and weight are measured
and then some questions are asked to establish if they are at risk.
If it is determined that they are at risk,
we contact them and warn them.
Diabetes has a definite genetic aspect.
But, through technological developments in the last 30 years,
we see that non-juvenile diabetes,
which traditionally emerged after age 45, now arises around 40.
Apart from that, diabetes can now also be seen in 12 to 14 year olds.
The cause of this is often due to an inactive lifestyle.
Another cause can be a junk food diet.
There are a number of problems caused by this kind of diet
- diabetes is one of them.
Podiatry Unit – Foot Care
Now we have a foot care unit to serve patients with diabetes
this is called Podiatry.
95% of our work is focused on education.
We are an education intensive association.
We have a diabetes school program.
It is a 6 week course one night per week for 2 hours.
Doctors, nurses and dieticians
come and lecture the participants about diabetes.
Also, we have conversation clubs on the first Thursday of every month.
At these sessions there is always someone from the health team
that attends and provides relevant information.
Additionally, we have camp programs.
Our Diabetics Summer Camp is usually conducted around the month of September.
At the camp we show our participants how they can have a healthy holiday
and how to cope with diabetes when vacationing.
There is of course a health team with us at the camp.
One of the biggest achievements for the Diabetes Association
is that it has created public awareness regarding diabetes.
We believe we have done this.
In society as a whole, many people are uninformed about diabetes
but at least they know that a Diabetes Association exists.