Diabetes Ireland Charity launches its 50th year celebrations with the largest Diabetes Health & Wellbeing Exhibition in Ireland.
This free Diabetes Health & Wellbeing Exhibition is taking place in Chartered Accountants House, 47- 49 Pearse St, Dublin on Sunday 13 November from 12 noon to 5pm and we are urging people with diabetes and their families plus people who feel they may be at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes to attend.
It is a free event, with over 20 companies exhibiting, 4 education workshops and 6 free health checks. All of the latest medical technology will be on display to touch and feel, along with a broad range of healthy living stands and other diabetes related services and professionals in attendance who will all be eager to answer queries from attendees.
Health checks include Cholesterol, Blood Pressure, Blood Glucose, Dental Screening, Weight, Waist Circumference assessment and HbA1c. Workshop topics will range from the latest developments in stem cell research, technology developments, alternative therapy usage in diabetes to becoming sugar smart. For children, there will be a magic show plus balloon and face painting artists.
The charity was formally set up in 1967 to lobby for free insulin and medications. It achieved this by 1971 and today over 220,000 people with diabetes still receive their medications free of charge. In recent years, the charity secured its own premises and is providing direct services to thousands of people with diabetes each year.
To help launch the 50th birthday celebrations of the charity, Diabetes Ireland is hosting a medal awards ceremony for 12 people who have lived well with diabetes for 50 years. Charity President, Professor Gerald Tomkin and Chairperson, Professor Hilary Hoey, who themselves have worked for the past 50 years in diabetes will be presenting the awards and also sharing their memories.
Professor Hilary Hoey, Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist and Chairperson of Diabetes Ireland said
“this is a day to celebrate life with diabetes and to see just how far technology has come in terms of improving management of diabetes. Prior to the discovery of insulin, people who developed diabetes had no future but today with new technologies, medications and more knowledge of the condition, people with diabetes can live a full life and this is what we are celebrating”.
Margaret O’Dwyer and her sister Marie Davis, are both looking forward to the ceremony.
Sisters – Bernie Brady, Margaret O Dwyer, Marie Davis
Margaret was diagnosed in 1964 at 16 years of age and Marie at 19 years of age. Margaret says
“Diabetes is a great leveller in life, I didn’t let it bother me, and in fact I think it gave me confidence and spurred me on to take risks in life and live life to the full. I have led a very busy and fulfilling life and am as healthy if not healthier than my peers, who don’t have diabetes. Diabetes did not hold me back”.
Margaret completed a degree in Commerce at UCD, ran her own business, had 3 sons and travelled much of the world. Her sister and the other medal recipients have similar stories.
Margaret O’Dwyer and her three sons, Richard, Michael & Gerard
“The exhibition is free to attend and I would urge people with diabetes and their families and the wider community who want to learn more about diabetes to come along on the day, we would be delighted to see you” added Professor Hoey.
For more details on the visit –diabetes.ie/fundraising/diabetes-health-exhibition-2016
