Eleanor Burnham AM attends World Diabetes Day event at the Assembly (Eleanor Burnham )

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Eleanor Burnham <info@eburnham.org.uk>

Eleanor Burnham AM attends World Diabetes Day event at the Assembly

November 13, 2009 9:12 AM

Eleanor Burnham AM talks to Andrew Owen who has written a book after losing four stone and almost reversed his diabetes

Eleanor Burnham AM attended a joint event hosted by Diabetes UK Cymru and the Diabetes Peer Support Programme at the Assembly to mark World Diabetes Day.

The event was held at the Assembly's Ty Hywel building in Cardiff on Wednesday 11 November in advance of World Diabetes Day on Saturday November 14.

During the two-hour event, Mrs Burnham AM heard about both charities' work and also had the chance to talk to people living with diabetes.

Before the event, she also pledged her support to a Statement of Opinion welcoming World Diabetes Day and praising Diabetes UK Cymru's work in raising awareness about the condition.

Diabetes UK Cymru provides advice, information and support for people with diabetes and their relatives and also funds vital research into the condition.

Attending the event also enabled Mrs Burnham AM to pledge her support for raising awareness about the condition, which is increasing rapidly across Wales.

She said: "I was delighted to attend the event hosted by Diabetes UK Cymru and the Diabetes Peer Support Programme.

"More than 30,000 people have now been diagnosed with diabetes in North Wales and a further 6,000 have the condition but don't yet know it.

"The event for World Diabetes Day was a chance to raise awareness about the condition and to talk about what's being done in Wales to support people living with diabetes."

Dai Williams, National Director of Diabetes UK Cymru, said: "We were really pleased that Mrs Burnham AM attended the event.

"Diabetes is rising rapidly in Wales with nearly 1,500 more people being diagnosed with the condition in North Wales in the last year alone.

"We need to do everything we can to stop the ticking timebomb of Type 2 diabetes in Wales and the World Diabetes Day event was the perfect chance to address what can be done."

Wendy Gane MBE, coordinator of the Diabetes Peer Support Programme, said: "The number of people being diagnosed with diabetes is increasing every year and we need to ensure that people with diabetes, their families and carers have access to patient education.

"This will enable them to make informed choices about the self management of their condition.

"World Diabetes Day gives both organisations the opportunity of raising awareness of the issues that affect children, young people and adults with diabetes across Wales."

For more information about diabetes, or to become a member of Diabetes UK, contact Diabetes UK Cymru on 029 2066 8276 or by emailing wales@diabetes.org.uk.