Diabetes New Zealand has challenged all of New Zealand to stop turning a blind eye to New Zealand's fastest-growing health crisis and, as another part of part of Diabetes Action Month, Rotorua residents are also being encouraged to take part in a national roadshow on November 10, at Rotorua Countdown from 2pm to 5pm.
There they can learn about the risk of diabetes, and how to manage their lifestyle to reduce the risk.
Diabetes New Zealand chief executive Steve Crew encourages Rotorua residents to play their part in supporting people as they change their lifestyle.
"We need to empower those people at risk to make better lifestyle choices and support them as they make changes to their diet and start to move more," he says.
"Diabetes is New Zealand's issue - everyone is at risk of diabetes, and everyone can affect change. We are on a mission to reduce the diabetes tally and combat the trend, one New Zealander at a time."
Steve says diabetes affects not only the quarter of a million people who live with the disease, but the whole nation and it's time the country took steps to remedy the appalling increase in the condition.
"Diabetes places a great burden on families, communities and the country as a whole. Everyone is at risk of diabetes.
"As a nation we pay our part through our taxes - we now need to play our part through our actions.
"One in four people are believed to have prediabetes. In many of those cases, a healthy lifestyle of nutritional eating and regular exercise can help prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes," he says.
Diabetes New Zealand aims to tackle the New Zealand diabetes epidemic by compelling the nation to be more aware of their risk factors for diabetes; and to take action by joining Diabetes New Zealand's move for a healthier New Zealand.
"We are all naturally meant to move and want Rotorua to 'Join the MoveMeant'," Steve says.
For more information and to #JointheMoveMeant, please visit diabetes.org.nz/home or facebook.com/diabetesnz.
