18 Sep 2011

Diabetes NZ dismisses claims about programme failure

8:00 am on 18 September 2011

Diabetes New Zealand has rubbished claims that a Government-funded diabetes programme has failed because it did not give strong enough direction about healthy eating.

The Society of Naturopaths says the programme is being ended because it advised diabetics to avoid unhealthy foods rather than to stop eating them entirely.

But Diabetes NZ says the programme had little to do with healthy eating and was focussed on catching complications from the disease early on.

The Fight the Obesity Epidemic group says the message about unhealthy food is already clear and work needs to be focused on making healthy alternatives more accessible.

Last week, the Government announced the end of the programme after a review found it failed to deliver any tangible health benefits.