Durbanville Lions Club hosted a community diabetes screening day at the De Ville Centre in Durbanville on Friday 14 November in support of World Diabetes Month, which is being celebrated both internationally and in South Africa.
The club invited Peter Daniel from Gordon’s Bay, the Lions District chair for diabetes and a retired pharmacist, to assist with this important project.
“Some participants were understandably nervous about the finger prick, as many of us have a natural fear of needles. However, the procedure was quick and we completed the blood glucose test in moments,” said Daniel.
“We screened about 60 people, and five of them presented with abnormally high glucose levels. These community members were referred to their doctors or local clinics for further testing and appropriate medical care,” he said.
“The significance of community screening cannot be overstated. Diabetes, much like hypertension and several other chronic conditions, is often referred to as a silent killer. Many people experience no warning signs until serious complications arise. Early detection is therefore essential,” he said.
Life-threatening condition
“Current global and national statistics highlight the urgency. It is estimated that nearly half of all people living with diabetes remain undiagnosed and unaware of their potentially life-threatening condition. In 2023, more than 600 000 people died from AIDS related complications, while over 1,6 million people lost their lives due to diabetes related complications. These numbers are a stark reminder of the importance of regular health checks,” Daniel said.
Danielle Cronje, president of the Durbanville Lions Club, expressed her appreciation to everyone involved. “Thank you to our member Judy Young for coordinating the event, to Peter for conducting the testing, and to the De Ville Centre for graciously hosting us. Working together to raise awareness of diabetes is an important part of the vision of Lions International, and we encourage everyone to know their glucose number.”
