Mijas La Cala Lions Diabetic Support
Group
About the group
The Group
provides diabetics with information about how to best manage their condition and
supports them in doing so
Monthly meetings and a Newsletter are available to members as well as a Helpline
The Group recommends specialists to members so that they can have access to the
best treatment, as well as explains and
advises on the workings of the State health system, to ensure Meetings the best
management of their condition
The group was founded in 2003 with much help from the local Lions when news was
reaching us of newly diagnosed diabetics who were rarely given the correct
information at the local doctor's surgeries.
They were often told only 'Youre diabetic'. Take these tablets!” Language
barriers did not help and so we decided to begin our support group. The aim was
to create a forum where diabetics could meet in a friendly and supportive
atmosphere with others who are living with the same issues
It can be frightening to fInd out you have diabetes but with good control you
can learn to live with it..,,or let diabetes learn to live with you !
Information is essential for all-important self management so the emphasis has
been on education and information about diabetes and related issues e.g..
foot-care and risks of amputation, and other risk factors such as heart and
stroke problems and eye care. Important also are the social gatherings and
fund-raising in order to be able to assist diabetics
Spain is at present behind the times in some ways with regard to diabetes: the
medication offered is often not the latest to say the least and a visit to the
specialist is rarely offered. With good luck we were introduced to a
specialist in diabetes, Dr Francisco M Gomez Trujillo of the Beafranin Clinic in
Fuengirola, who had studied in USA. He was saddened by the level of expertise in
diabetes care of the local doctors and was hoping to re-educate them and provide
his own centre. Bureaucracy is delaying his efforts up to this moment in
time and so in the meantime he offers a great deal of information to us as well
as specialist consultations with our members. We also have a Finnish Doctor, Dr.
Matti Tolonen, a nutritionist, who gives us regular updates on the latest news
on nutrition for diabetes
Find out all you can about Diabetes.
Contact ANNE BOWLES on HELPLINE 952 46 41 84.
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!
The Founders Anne & Frank Bowles