For volunteers
Voluntary groups and other volunteers
Your help is vital to the success of this campaign. Thank you to all of you who have taken part in the Measure Up campaign. There are still more than half a million people with undiagnosed diabetes.
In London alone, an estimated 300,000 people have diabetes and there are a further 70,000 people undiagnosed.
By continuing to work together this campaign could be even bigger and, more importantly, by making sure people are diagnosed early, lives can be saved.
Who is the campaign aimed at?
Why does the campaign focus on waist measurement?
How will the campaign reach people at risk?
How can I help get the message across?
Where can I get more ideas and campaign materials?
How will I know if the campaign is successful?
Who is the campaign aimed at?
Diabetes UK recommends white people aged over 40, and people from black, Asian and minority ethnic groups aged over 25, with one or more of the risk factors to be screened. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the risk factors of Type 2 diabetes.
Why does the campaign focus on waist measurement?
Over 80 per cent of people (four in every five people) with Type 2 diabetes are overweight at diagnosis. People with undiagnosed Type 2 are our target audience for this campaign. We recognise that 20 per cent of people with Type 2 are not overweight at diagnosis, which is why the campaign is emphasising all of the other possible risk factors, in addition to waist size.
The following findings were used to help develop the campaign focus:
- Waist circumference may be an even better marker of Type 2 diabetes risk than either weight or body mass index (BMI) alone.
- Even among non-obese patients, abdominal distribution of fat and increased waist measurements are independently associated with the risk for Type 2 diabetes.
- Recent prospective studies suggest that central obesity as represented by anthropometric measurements such as waist circumference is a better predictor of the development of Type 2 diabetes than overall obesity as reflected by BMI measurements.
These findings are supported by research – you will find details and links to the relevant abstracts in our Resources section.
How will the campaign reach people at risk?
As well as advertising, the campaign includes articles in the media, posters at GP surgeries and pharmacies, and information on relevant websites. Volunteers also play an important part in reaching members of the public.
How can I help get the message across?
- Order the campaign materials and distribute them everywhere, eg your library and shops, GP surgery and places of work.
- Hold an event – organise a stall at a fair or a sponsored walk.
- Contact the media and think of a 'hook' to get them interested – how about measuring your local mayor’s waist? You can order a media pack for tips and ideas.
- Involve other local organisations and encourage them to help spread the word, eg persuade your local health promotion unit to get involved or display materials at an event.
- Make sure your GP surgeries are aware of the campaign and have all of the necessary materials.
- Diabetes UK asks volunteers interested in campaigning to put pressure on locally to ensure people with diabetes are diagnosed as soon as possible.
Where can I get more ideas and campaign materials?
The ideas sheet below, developed for our 2007 Measure Up Campaign, is packed with ways for you to get involved. Use the form to order all the campaign materials you need to support your activities in London.
See 'Related information' for downloads and details of how to order materials online.
A media pack containing tips and ideas for contacting the media, and a pro-forma release for you to adapt, is available from the Diabetes UK press office. Email measureup@diabetes.org.uk or call Maria Lam on 020 7424 1166.
Please contact Diabetes UK with all your plans so the charity can share your ideas.
Other materials to help you raise awareness, from tape measures to posters, are also available to order using the form. You may request as many of these free materials as you can effectively use – there is no charge for postage. As always, we aim to keep costs as low as possible so please order only enough for your activities.
How will I know if the campaign is successful?
We will feature case studies of people who have been helped by this campaign – so please send in your stories.
Watch this space for further details of the campaign, and you'll find more details in Get Involved.