​01/11/2016: City of Joburg and Novo Nordisk partner to offer free diabetes screening 
 
The City of Johannesburg and Novo Nordisk have partnered to create awareness and to encourage Johannesburg citizens to screen for diabetes.
 
The screening is offered as part of an awareness campaign to educate South Africans about healthy lifestyle choices and the associated risks.
 
With massive increases in the incidence of diabetes and obesity, South Africa is sitting on a ticking time-bomb regarding the health of its citizens. The lifestyle changes, coupled with rapid rate of urbanisation in the country have resulted in the nation facing a health crisis that has been termed ‘the diabetes tsunami’.
 
The event which will kick off in Sandton and officiated by Cllr Mpho Phalatse, the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Development in the City of Johannesburg, will see 16 cyclists including the City of Joburg Cycle Team take part in the Novo Nordisk Cycle 4 Diabetes Relay.
 
A 72-hour cycling relay commencing on Thursday, 03 November 2016 at Novo Nordisk, 150 Rivonia Road in Sandton from 09h00, will take the cyclists through Sandton, Soweto, Bloemfontein, Aliwal North, Graaff Reinet, to conclude in George in the Western Cape on 05 November 2016.
 
The Johannesburg leg of the relay will culminate at Maponya Mall in Soweto, at an activity filled activation which will open from 9h00 – 15h00 and will offer free diabetes screening and testing at no cost to the public.
 
Symptoms of diabetes include weight loss, frequent urination, a lack of energy and excessive thirst. People with a combination of any of these symptoms should seek medical attention immediately.
 
For more information, visit ChangingDiabetesZA on Facebook or @NovoNordiskSA on Twitter, or follow the hashtags #ChangingDiabetes and #Cycle4Diabetes.
 
Details of the designated testing point:
 
Date:Thursday, 03 November 2016
Time:09h00 to 15h00
Venue:Maponya Mall, Soweto 
 
ENDS
 
Issued by the City of Johannesburg
 
For all media queries, send an email to mediaqueries@joburg.org.za