Following a number of years of uncertainty regarding Lions and their involvement in Random Blood Screening for Diabetes, it is the wish of the Council of Governors that a revitalized Programme be re-introduced to MD105.
To that end would clubs please consider the following?
Lions ARE fully insured for Diabetes Screening, provided that professionals such as Nurses, Doctors, Dentists or Vets take the blood samples, without payment.
Many members of the Medical Profession would like to screen all patients, but there are no funds available from the National Health Service to do this.
The Medical Profession, in the main, supports our efforts to find people at risk, provided we educate them about how we operate.
The American Diabetic Association actively promotes lions Screening activities, and the Irish Diabetes Foundation takes part in Lions Screenings. Efforts will be made with the British Diabetic Association in the near future.
The Lions Eye Health Programme, a very worthy activity, does not replace other Diabetes related activities, it is a SightFirst initiative, supported by Diabetes officers.
There are predicted to be over 1,000,000 undetected diabetics in MD105, suffering long term serious damage to sight and circulation.
With 13 Districts and 950 Clubs, that's an average of 77,000 undetected diabetics in each District, and over 1000 per Club.
These people will go on suffering the insidious damage until they are properly treated.
They will only start treatment when they have been detected and diagnosed. We are the only organisation prepared to help.
A new Diabetes Screening booklet will be published shortly to help Lions organise Screening activities.
Lets put Screening back on the agenda.
Yours in Lions
Bob Astwood
Multiple District 105 Diabetes Education Programme Co-ordinator
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