November is Diabetes Action Month, and local members are encouraging Wanganui people to "Act Today to Change Tomorrow", which is the theme for this year's awareness campaign.
Diabetes NZ Wanganui branch members Helen Ashton and Jennifer Clarke say a number of events are planned during November to promote awareness and understanding of diabetes.
"In the past 10 years, the number of people with diabetes has more than doubled to 257,000 and more people have pre-diabetes (glucose intolerance) so we want to bring it to everybody's notice," said Mrs Ashton.
"There will be an awareness expo at the War Memorial Centre on November 16 and we will hang a banner in Victoria Ave two weeks before the expo to remind everyone that November is action month."
She said there would be about 20 stalls related to diabetes and other conditions caused by diabetes and a number of businesses would help promote healthy eating and exercise.