Step 1: Promote Key Mesages
Key messages can be easily shared on social media platforms during health events, awareness days and integrate them into existing diabetes and health programs.
Diabetes is a major cause of vision loss and blindness for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Up to 98% of vision loss and blindness from diabetes is preventable with early detection and follow-up treatment.
Key messages include
- Everyone with diabetes is at risk of going blind.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with diabetes require a YEARLY eye check to reduce their risk of vision loss and blindness
- Diabetes can cause damage at the back of your eye without you knowing. Don’t wait for symptoms.
- Good diabetes management including controlling blood sugars, blood pressure and cholesterol levels, is important for preventing vision loss and blindness.
- Following treatment as directed by an eye specialist can prevent further vision loss
Health awareness days
- World Sight Day is an annual day of awareness held on the second Thursday of October each year, to focus global attention on blindness and vision impairment.
- National Diabetes Week always includes the week around 14 July.
- World Diabetes Day is an international event to raise awareness about diabetes, celebrated every year on 14 November.
- JulEYE is The RANZCO Eye Foundation’s national eye health awareness month that takes place during July each year.
Social media messages
Remember to post messages on your clinic or community Facebook/Twitter page, website or print in your newsletter
Suggested social media hash tags: #checktodayseetomorrow #CTST #urbaneyes #seetomorrow
Below are some sample messages that you can post leading up to, during health awareness events and activities and beyond.
- Diabetes can cause blindness. Get your eyes checked YEARLY. Ask your local clinic about making an appointment today. #checktodayseetomorrow #diabetes
- November 14 is World Diabetes Day. Got diabetes? Go and get your eyes checked! #checktodayseetomorrow
- Got diabetes? A YEARLY eye check can detect problems early before your vision is affected. #CTST
- ‘Don’t Be Shame Go and Get an Eye Check’. Diabetes can cause blindness. #checktodayseetomorrow #urbaneyes
- Got diabetes? Get your eyes checked YEARLY #seetomorrow
- 'I didn’t listen, I never realised diabetes can affect your eyes' #checktodayseetomorrow
- Up to 98% blindness from diabetes is preventable and treatable #checktodayseetomorrow
