Media alert and photo opportunity for news editors, pic editors, health editors and journalists. Attend the 280 a day- National Diabetes Week 2015 campaign launch.

When: 9:15am Sunday 12 July 2015 (presentation commences at 9.30 sharp)

Where: Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), the Lightwell, Federation Square, entry off Flinders St, Melbourne

Why: 280 Australians develop all types of diabetes every day- yet most people are not aware of it. Diabetes Australia will release a new survey showing that three out of four people substantially underestimate the prevalence of diabetes in our community.

To coincide with National Diabetes Week, Diabetes Australia is launching a new awareness campaign with the theme ‘280 a day’. The new television campaign will highlight the message that ‘you don’t have to be old, you don’t have to be overweight’ to be at risk. The ad shows 280 images of people living with diabetes and explains the serious health complications it can cause- like heart disease, kidney failure, stroke, amputations and blindness. The continuing rise of this epidemic and the high impact on everyday Australians cannot be ignored.

Available for interview

• Greg Johnson- CEO Diabetes Australia
• Craig Bennett- CEO Diabetes Victoria
• Richard Larkins AO- endocrinologist/ diabetes expert
• Vasantha Ragunathan- health coach, living with type 2 diabetes
• Bev Friend- management and business consultant, Life! champion
• Ian Westman- former bank manager, living with type 2 diabetes

About diabetes/Note to editors

280 Australians develop diabetes every day. That’s one person every five minutes.

Around 1.7 million Australians have diabetes. This includes all types of diagnosed diabetes (1.2 known and registered) as well as silent, undiagnosed type 2 diabetes (up to 500,000 estimated),

Diabetes has a significant impact on quality of life and reduces life expectancy. Diabetes is a silent killer. There are large numbers of people with silent, undiagnosed type 2 diabetes which may be damaging their bodies.

More information:

• Lyn Curtis 0411 019 924 [email protected]
• Sybille Taylor 0408 102 344 [email protected]