Producers aiding diabetes solution

At the start of Diabetes Week 2012, peak industry body Growcom said Queensland horticulture producers were growing part of the solution to the problem of increased diabetes in Queensland.
Chief executive officer Alex Livingstone said Queenslanders could taste how good it was to choose healthy food options in King George Square, Brisbane, this week where free apples grown in Stanthorpe were being given to people visiting the Diabetes Queensland’s display designed to raise awareness of diabetes.
“Apples are a delicious and satisfying low GI snack-on-the-go and Queenslanders are fortunate to have such a high quality apple-growing district at Stanthorpe,” Mr Livingstone said.
He said it was distressing to think that three out of every four people surveyed during National Diabetes Week last year were shown to be at intermediate or high risk of Type 2 diabetes and, since that time, 23,000 Queenslanders have been diagnosed with this chronic condition for which there is no cure.
Mr Livingstone said that health experts showed the way to prevent or delay contracting Type 2 diabetes was through ensuring a nutritious diet, engaging in regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight.
“Making the decision to increase your consumption of fruit and vegetables daily in place of fats and high kilojoule foods is a valuable step in the right direction for your health,” he said.
“Queensland horticulture producers grow some of the best fruit and vegetables in the country so Queenslanders will be rewarded for their change to better health with great quality and taste. Aussie apples grown in Stanthorpe are one example.”
Growcom also welcomed the establishment of the Queensland Health Media Club (www.healthmediaclub.com.au) which will feature State Health Minister Lawrence Springborg talking about the government’s preventative health plans at its inaugural function today.
“The aim of the club is to promote preventative health measures by fostering communication between members of the media regularly working on health stories and the health sector researching these issues,” Mr Livingstone said.
“It will be a positive change to be hearing and reading stories about how Queenslanders can improve their health based on the latest science rather than stories about hospital queues and exploding health budgets.
“We look forward to hearing how the Queensland Government will get behind the promotion of positive health messages to Queenslanders, which in the long run is a far less expensive strategy for health departments than dealing with ever increasing rates of chronic disease.”
More information about National Diabetes Week (July 8-14) is available at www.diabetesqld.org.au