Campaigns - 13 July 2011

Diabetes Australia and Vision 2020 have joined forces for a National Diabetes Week campaign. The 'Diabetes: Don't be blind to the risks' campaign is twofold around encouraging the two million Australians at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes to assess their risk and also encouraging the one million Australians who have known diabetes to have regular eye checks.

Type 2 diabetes continues to be the fastest growing chronic disease in Australia with many Australians not realising the seriousness of developing type 2 diabetes, and the ongoing health and lifestyle complications including blindness, before it is too late.

Diabetic eye disease or retinopathy is a significant cause of vision loss and blindness in adult Australians. About one in six people with diabetes is affected by retinopathy.

The diabetes epidemic is growing by a staggering 275 new cases every day and we have 1 million Australians registered on the National Diabetes Services Scheme. For every person known to have type 2 diabetes another is yet to be diagnosed.The burden of type 2 diabetes is increasing and it is expected to become the leading cause of disease burden by 2023.

Real life stories

Rod Kafer

Rod Kafer is a former rugby player who played for both Australia and the ACT brumbies. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 15 and has lived with diabetes for 25 years

Dale Weightman

Dale Weightman is a former champion AFL player for the Richmond Tigers. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 23 but that didn't stop him having a successful career including a premiership and captaincy of both his beloved Tigers and Victoria.

Fifty-one year old Dale has recently had more serious eye problems to worry about. "I began getting my eyes tested regularly five years ago. Lucky I did as they found I had diabetic retinopathy. My sight suffered but they were able to fix me up."

Dale is thankful for getting regular eyes checks. "It's important that everyone knows that with diabetes your eyes are at risk. Get your eyes checked before it's too late."

Jamie Cripps

Jamie Cripps is 19 years old and plays AFL club St Kilda. Jamie was diagnosed last year with type 1 diabetes shortly after being recruited as St Kilda's number one draft pick.

After hearing about this campaign Jamie is going to have his eyes checked for the first time. "I'm going to get my eyes checked regularly and you should do the same."