Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Life! program is launching a new campaign. The TELL TEN campaign is encouraging every Victorian to tell ten people about the free online risk test, AUSDRISK, to find out if they are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This simple test only takes three minutes to do.
“Three out of five Victorians are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes,” says Diabetes Victoria CEO Craig Bennett. “The symptoms may not always be obvious, so it is important to check your risk. The good news is that, once you know, you can do something about it.”
“Whether it’s family, friends, co-workers or members of groups you are in, telling ten people you know is the best way we can spread the word about checking your risk and taking the first steps to achieving a healthier lifestyle. If people learn that they are at high risk, we are here to help,” Bennett continues.
Funded by the Victorian Government and delivered by Diabetes Victoria, the Life! program is a free lifestyle modification program that helps participants reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The program helps give participants the motivation and support needed to adopt healthy behaviours and a more active lifestyle. This approach can be more effective than taking medication and can have a long-term positive effect on participants’ health.
The Life! program is the largest prevention program for individuals at risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. It is delivered as either a group course or an individual telephone health coaching service, depending on participants’ preferences and needs.
“Over the past ten years, the Life! program has accumulated some impressive statistics – more than 74,000 Victorians have undertaken a risk assessment and more than 48,000 have commenced the program,” says Bennett. “More than 150 community-based health professionals are now active in prevention delivery and almost 90 organisations across Victoria have committed staff and resources to provide prevention services.”
Head to lifeprogram.org.au or call 13 RISK (13 7475) for more information on the Life! program.
