ISA supports this year’s World Diabetes Day with an online campaign aiming to encourage people to take simple steps towards a healthier life with diabetes
Brussels, 14 November 2016: For yet another year, the International Sweeteners Association (ISA) stands by the efforts of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) to raise awareness on diabetes prevention and management, by supporting World Diabetes Day with targeted and engaging activation and materials, this time with the valuable scientific support of the European Specialist Dietetic Network (ESDN) for Diabetes of the European Federation of the Associations of Dietitians (EFAD).
Adhering to this year’s theme “Eyes on Diabetes”1, which promotes the importance of screening in early diagnosis and treatment of type 2 diabetes in order to reduce the risk of serious complications, like retinopathy, the ISA developed an integrated online programme that communicates on the importance of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle and the value that starting with simple steps can bring towards living a healthier life to prevent, or manage, type 2 diabetes and its complications.
It’s easy to start with one simple step!
The core of this activity programme consists of a dynamic infographic and an insightful animated video, which under the umbrella theme “It’s easy to start with one simple step!” explain the importance of getting small, everyday choices right in order to help people live a healthier life with diabetes without complications. Fundamental aim of this ISA online campaign is also to address in a creative and informative way the key lifestyle and dietary guidelines for people with diabetes2, including the role low calorie sweeteners can play in helping manage blood glucose levels as a safe option to enjoy sweet taste without calories and most importantly without affecting blood glucose and insulin3.
Dr Aimilia Papakonstantinou, lecturer on nutrition and metabolism at the Agricultural University of Athens, Greece, and chair of the EFAD’s ESDN for Diabetes, outlined, “We have good news to share: type 2 diabetes can be preventable or even reversed if diagnosed at an early stage, and lifestyle including dietary changes are implemented. Dietitians have an integral role to play in educating people how to follow the dietary guidelines and in developing an individualized nutrition therapy program for people with diabetes.” Answering to whether low calorie sweeteners have a role in the diet of people with diabetes, Dr Papakonstantinou highlighted in an interview that in the context of an overall healthy dietary plan, low calorie sweeteners can be part of the diet of people with diabetes and provide them with a greater variety of sweet-tasting products with less sugars and calories, while helping them to manage sugar and energy intake.
Five steps towards a healthier life with diabetes
Both the infographic and the animated video follow the story of taking 5 simple steps towards a healthier life with diabetes and provide science-based information on dietary and lifestyle recommendations for people with type 2 diabetes. More specifically, these 5 steps include:
- Healthier eating habits
- Being more active
- Monitoring carbs and reducing sugars’ intake
- Better weight management
- Blood glucose monitoring
For more information on the ISA online activity programme for World Diabetes Day 2016 and to check out “It’s easy to start with one simple step” infographic and animated video please click here.
Don’t forget to follow @SweetenersAndU, our Facebook and LinkedIn pages, and to subscribe to the ISA YouTube channel, and get involved in the conversation by using and following hashtags #ISAforWDD and #WDD.
For more information on low calorie sweeteners, please visit our website or contact the ISA secretariat by clicking here.