Brimbank residents will benefit from a free community program to combat diabetes and obesity in Melbourne’s west next month.
The Brimbank Intervention Into Diabetes And Obesity Project is a response to the shocking number of diabetics and obese residents in the area.
The Department of Health’s most recent report on the condition revealed 6.7 per cent of Brimbank and 9.3 per cent of Melton residents were living with type 2 diabetes. This compared with the state average of 4.8 per cent.
Project lead researcher Michael Mathai, of Victoria University, said the program was designed to reduce the onset of diabetes and manage the disease early on.
“A lot of people have no idea they are diabetic or are at risk of diabetes,” Associate Professor Mathai said.
“We will be getting the community in and assessing the health of their diet, body mass index and lifestyle history, and we’ll be figuring out a diet composition.”
Understanding there is a risk of developing type 2 diabetes and knowing your family history is the first step in intervening and preventing the progression of the disease, according to Diabetes Australia’s Victorian chief executive, Greg Johnson.
“People tend to underestimate the impact of diabetes,” he said. “If it’s not diagnosed or treated, the damage can be serious – heart attacks, kidney failure, loss of eyesight, amputation or even death.”
Associate Professor Mathai said there was a proven association between diabetes and areas with high migrant populations or lower socio-economic status, but a definite cause-and-effect could not be established.
He encouraged residents to utilise the project’s customised diabetes intervention and prevention strategies.
The Brimbank Intervention Into Diabetes And Obesity Project will take place at the Osteopathy and Nutrition Clinic, Victoria University St Albans campus, building 11N, McKechnie Street, St Albans.
It will begin on Tuesday, August 6, and run on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. For more details: call 9919 2625.
