People living with diabetes, or at risk of it, are being invited to walk, jog or run Carmarthen’s weekly 5km parkrun this Saturday, 14 November, for World Diabetes Day.
Family and friends are welcome too. The health board says nobody needs to run: the course can be taken at any pace.
The event is at Parc Dewi Sant, the health and wellbeing campus in the grounds of the former St David’s Hospital, where parkrun starts at 9am every Saturday.
Health staff and Diabetes UK Cymru at the 14 November parkrun
Hywel Dda University Health Board is working with the run’s organisers and Diabetes UK on the day.
Health board staff will be there with Diabetes UK Cymru to offer information and advice, including on why it pays to act early.
It is the first time all seven health boards in Wales have joined forces with Diabetes UK and parkrun for World Diabetes Day, with events at seven parkruns across the country, the health board says.
‘There’s no pressure to run’, says Hywel Dda’s public health director
Dr Ardiana Gjini, the health board’s executive director of public health, said this year’s World Diabetes Day theme was “Early action on diabetes”.
She said joining a parkrun was “just one way people can help to reduce their risk of developing conditions like type 2 diabetes and the knock-on effects it can have on their health”.
Dr Gjini said parkruns were open to people of all abilities and supported mental wellbeing as well as physical health. She said they also gave people “valuable opportunities to make connections with people in their community”.
She said: “There’s no pressure to run so people can take their time, so even if this will be their first step towards better health, it will be a great opportunity to start that journey.”
Thirst, tiredness and night-time trips to the toilet: the diabetes symptoms not to ignore
Dr Gjini said it was also “crucial to spot the signs of type 1 diabetes as early as possible”. Catching it early can help prevent life-threatening complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
Diabetes is when the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high, because the body does not make enough insulin or the insulin it makes does not work properly.
People with type 1 diabetes cannot produce insulin, while people with type 2 either do not make enough or cannot use it properly. Other types include gestational diabetes in pregnancy.
The health board says the common symptoms include needing the toilet more often, especially at night, feeling very thirsty, feeling more tired than usual and losing weight without trying.
Genital itching or thrush, cuts and wounds that are slow to heal, and blurred vision can also be signs. Anyone with symptoms is urged to contact their GP and ask for a blood test.
How to sign up for Parc Dewi Sant parkrun in Carmarthen
Taking part is free, but walkers and runners need to register on the parkrun website beforehand and bring their personal barcode on the day.
Anyone who can’t make it to Carmarthen can choose from 11 adult parkruns and two junior parkruns across the Hywel Dda area every weekend, the health board says.
In June, the health board’s diabetes team took part in parkruns in Aberystwyth, Haverfordwest and Llanelli for Diabetes Awareness Week.
Discover more from Swansea Bay News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
