14 November is International Diabetes Day and we are joining the international movement to advocate for a better lifestyle to stop eye damage from diabetes.

Diabetes SA says the following on their website : "There is an explosion of diabetes worldwide and developing countries like South Africa are the worst hit. The World Health Organisation (WHO) predicts that in South Africa, the numbers will triple in the next 15 years. Although all groups are affected, those most at risk are the black community who are undergoing rapid lifestyle and cultural changes, and people of Indian descent who have a gene pool that makes them unusually susceptible to diabetes.

Research shows that approximately 4-6 million people in SA have diabetes and that most of these people are unaware that they have the condition. Around the world it has been shown that patient education and motivation reduces the cost of diabetes care as well as reducing the risk of serious diabetes-related complications, dramatically."

Diabetes SA is an excellent source of diabetes information. They have books, pamphlets, posters and their own magazine. They organise diabetes management courses, lectures and informal discussion groups as well as family and youth camps.

Diabetes SA has a national network of branches and support groups and they aim to inform, educate, empower and encourage people with diabetes and their families in their communities so they may take control of their condition.

Diabetes SA promotes diabetes awareness, publicising the symptoms and warning signs of the dangers of uncontrolled or undiagnosed diabetes

Please prevent eye damage due to diabetes.

As part of November's Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month, Prevent Blindness America is launching its new "Live Right, Save Sight!" campaign. The goal of the program is to educate the public on diabetes and its potential effect on vision, as well as healthy choices you can make today to save sight in the future. Live Right, Save Sight! also provides free information including risk factors, treatment options and Medicare benefits as well as a dedicated web page.

You can also visit the International Diabetes Federation's webiste.