Every year on November 14, World Diabetes Day is observed in 160 countries. In response to the growing incidence of diabetes worldwide, the Communal House for Health Promotion in Mouscron is organizing its 13th annual prevention campaign.
Free screenings will be offered in Herseaux, Dottignies, and Mouscron. The program includes a welcome stand for diabetes risk assessment via questionnaire (Diabetest) and confidential blood glucose measurements.
Screenings will take place on November 18 from 9 AM to 11 AM at the Internat Pierre de Coubertin in Herseaux, and from 2 PM to 4 PM at the Hall de l’Europe in Dottignies. On November 19, tests will be available at the Mouscron Administrative Centre from 9 AM to 12 PM and from 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM.
The public is encouraged to complete the online 'Diabetest' questionnaire. A high score indicates an increased risk of developing diabetes, prompting a medical consultation for early management.
To highlight this awareness month, the Administrative Centre will be illuminated in blue, the official color for diabetes awareness, and its giant screen will display the screening event poster.
Diabetes is a major cause of cardiovascular disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, and limb amputation. Globally, approximately 589 million adults live with diabetes, a figure projected to reach 853 million by 2050. Over 90% of diabetics have type 2, 80% of which is preventable through a healthy lifestyle.
In Belgium, 5.9% of respondents in a 2018 National Health Survey reported having diabetes, double the rate in 1997. Those aged 50 and over are most affected (10.7%). In 2018, 1,510 deaths in Belgium were attributed to diabetes, with 256 in Hainaut and 13 in the Mouscron district. In Mouscron itself, diabetes affected 73 out of 1000 people in 2018, up from 61 per 1000 in 2009.
Getting screened is crucial. Visit on November 18 and 19. The 'diabetest' questionnaire is available prior to screening.
