Diabetes Ireland and MSD Host Free Screening Day at Tully’s Pharmacy in Castlerea, Co. Roscommon
- Diabetes Ireland and MSD join forces to raise awareness of Type 2 Diabetes prevention and management
- Diabetes Ireland specialists were on hand in Tully’s Pharmacy providing free tests for Type 2 Diabetes and health and wellbeing tips
Nial Tully of Tully’s Pharmacy with Clair Naughton, Diabetes Ireland
25th September, 2017: Diabetes Ireland and healthcare company MSD hosted a free Diabetes Screening Day at Tully’s Pharmacy in Castlerea, Co. Roscommon, on 22nd September, as part of a nationwide initiative. The event was open to all adults, both diagnosed and undiagnosed, who wanted to get more information about the risks associated with Type 2 Diabetes and how to better manage it. Now in its fourth year, the free education and screening programme has to date helped over 3,000 people from across Ireland get advice on how to effectively prevent or manage the condition.
Members of the public came along to Tully’s to avail of a free and simple test for Type 2 Diabetes, with risk assessments taking place throughout the day. With rapidly increasing obesity rates amongst Irish adults1, it is estimated that approx. 1 out of every 15 adults has diabetes.2 Type 2 Diabetes, which often develops slowly in adulthood, is progressive and usually requires continuous and careful management with healthy living, medication and/or insulin injections.
Commenting on the success of the 2017 series of Diabetes Screening Days with Diabetes Ireland, Nicola Fullam, MSD Ireland Patient Programme Manager, said, “This is our fourth year to partner with Diabetes Ireland in the roll-out of this nationwide initiative, which has helped over 3,000 people to date. We are delighted that the public and local pharmacies continue to value and support this campaign, and hope it helps raise awareness of Type 2 Diabetes and supports people to be more proactive in managing their health.”
Speaking about the importance of the programme, Dr. Anna Clarke, Health Promotion and Research Manager, Diabetes Ireland, said, “With chronic conditions such as diabetes, it is important that people are empowered to take control of their health and are fully informed on how to identify and manage their condition proactively. Knowledge on the risk factors around raised glucose levels and tips on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle are crucial. We’re delighted to continue our work with MSD on the Diabetes Screening Days, and are looking to make this the most successful instalment of the programme yet.”
Nial Tully, Pharmacist at Tully’s Pharmacy said, “We were delighted to be a part of the Diabetes Screening Days and to host an event in Tully’s Pharmacy. It was great to see so many people come along on the day and to contribute to an initiative that has helped empower people across Ireland to take control of their health.”
The 2017 edition of the Diabetes Screening Days kicked off in Cork on 12th May and continued across the country throughout the summer.