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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
Lucy Bladen

Canberra Liberals promise diabetes prevention campaign

A diabetes prevention and awareness campaign for the ACT would be funded if the Canberra Liberals win the election later this month.

The party has committed $3.4 million to a preventative health program and $1 million to an education campaign focused on increasing awareness of gestational diabetes.

A Liberal government would provide the funding to Diabetes Australia to deliver the program.

Deputy opposition leader Leanne Castley said Diabetes Australia offered similar prevention programs in other states, including NSW and Queensland.

She said the organisation was equipped to offer a similar program in the territory.

"In the ACT we have over 2300 Canberrans living with type 1 diabetes and over 16,800 with type 2 diabetes," Ms Castley said.

"We know that diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes is largely preventable through lifestyle modifications and early intervention strategies and that is why a Canberra Liberals government will invest in a preventable health program with Diabetes Australia."

Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee and deputy opposition leader Leanne Castley. Picture by Karleen Minney

About 60,000 people are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes yearly in Australia, with an average of 166 new diagnoses daily.

Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee said she had experienced gestational diabetes and this experience made her aware of the need for more education in the space.

"As someone who has previously experienced gestational diabetes, I understand there is a need to increase public awareness and educate pregnant women about the risks, symptoms and the importance of screening gestational diabetes," she said.

"Increased awareness can lead to better prevention, timely diagnosis and improved management of gestational diabetes during pregnancy."

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