The Bermuda Diabetes Association has gained a significantly higher profile with the official opening of a new office in Hamilton.

Diabetes is a largely preventable disease now rampant in Bermuda, but can be headed off with simple changes in habits.

“It’s the same old story — people only think it’s going to happen to the other guy,” said David Hills, chairman of the association.

“Unfortunately, it’s not true. It’s truly a lifestyle disease if you’re not genetically predisposed, and it’s a huge problem.”

Governor George Fergusson and Jeanne Atherden, the Minister of Health, Seniors and Environment, attended yesterday’s opening of the Victoria Street facility across from the Hamilton Health Centre.

“The key thing is that it’s going to allow us to expand our services — it provides a comfortable setting for our educational work,” Mr Hills said.

“We still have our diabetes resource centre, which is where our pharmacy runs, but we have not had an office. This lets us focus on what the association really does. This allows us to bring together our programmes and diabetes educators here, so that they can provide a more cohesive set of services — and maybe at some point we can add additional resources.”

The organisation’s goal is to continue raising awareness of the Island’s challenges with diabetes and its complications.

“Our objective is to educate and motivate people to do more for themselves,” said Mr Hills, who just began his 17th year as a person with type 2 diabetes, a disease that runs in his family.

“It’s an ongoing educational process to continue to make people aware of the complications that you can avoid if you look after yourself, particularly at a young age.”

The new office is open daily from 9am to 5pm. For more information, phone 236-3668 or e-mail info@diabetes.bm.