One of the greatest dangers for people with Type 2 diabetes is that they oftentimes don’t know they have it. Many of the early symptoms, such as fatigue, frequent urination and blurred vision are subtle and often ignored or attributed to other causes. All too often, it takes a life-threatening complication to make a diagnosis possible.
That’s what makes Type 2 diabetes so sinister. But Lions are making a difference.
William’s story
William Karanja Wokabi, a small-scale farmer from Nairobi, Kenya had a long family history of diabetes. “When I became diabetic, it was no surprise,” he said.
Although he was aware of his disease, it did not help him to notice that he had stepped on a nail while feeding his goats one day. A complication of diabetes, sensory neuropathy, had taken the feeling from his feet and left him in danger of permanent disability or worse.
But William was lucky.
Lions had opened a first-of-its-kind Diabetes Care Center in Kenya, and after seeing the gravity of his injury, they rushed him into surgery that same day—regardless of whether he could afford it or not.
“After the operation, I said, ‘My god, my foot is still there,’” William recalls. “I am very grateful.”
Making a difference
It’s a lot of hard work, but Lions are making an impact. In 2018, Lions served 7.1 million people around the world through more than 32,000 diabetes events including screenings and awareness events. And there’s still more to do.
World Diabetes Day is on November 14, and we’ve partnered with the International Diabetes Federation to help one million people get screened for Type 2 diabetes. Lions on every continent are organizing projects and raising funds to support our work changing lives in every community we touch.
Together we can prevent people like William from developing Type 2 diabetes. By increasing awareness through education, we can prevent thousands of people from developing this disease. Our ongoing support to our communities can reverse the course of prediabetes and help people thrive by making healthy choices.
Together, we will make our mark in the fight against diabetes.
Visit our World Diabetes Day page and discover how your club can make a difference in your community.
Don’t forget to use #lionsfightdiabetes and celebrate your service with other Lions around the world!
Kevin Jeong is the strategic communications specialist for Lions Clubs International.
