''Cycle for your snacks'' was the message for Dunedin shoppers yesterday as public health experts hit the city's central shopping area to educate people about diabetes.
While World Diabetes Day is today, staff from WellSouth Primary Health Network took their message out a day early to the Wall Street mall.
They brought with them a kitchen blender attached to a bicycle, giving people the chance to pedal-power the blender to create a free smoothie.
That fun display had a serious message, WellSouth community dietitian Amy Lowry said.
People who were overweight or did not exercise enough were more likely to have increased blood-glucose levels, leaving them at higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
''We know that if we can keep these things under control the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes, or it getting worse, are lower.''
If people who were ''pre-diabetic'' made the right lifestyle changes they could ''reverse'' the disease's onset, she said.
''We also know that if you've already got [type 2 diabetes], being healthy and active can delay its progression, and the onset of complications,'' she said.
Complications included blindness, heart attacks, strokes, gangrene and, consequently, amputations.
Also included in yesterday's display was a chance for people to have their blood-glucose and blood-fat levels tested - through small pin-prick blood tests on their fingertips that gave instant results.
WellSouth community nurse Marryllyn Donaldson said about 400 blood-glucose tests were performed yesterday, with 10 people being referred to their doctors as ''pre-diabetic'' and two people being referred as definitely diabetic.
Of the 50 people to have their blood-fat levels tested, 10 were told to consult their doctors for further tests.
Diabetes warning signs
Dizziness
Fatigue
Constantly thirsty
Poor wound healing
Nausea
