The Jordan Olympic Committee have orchestrated a campaign to promote World Diabetes Day ©JOC

An online social media campaign promoting healthy lifestyle initiatives has been held by the Jordan Olympic Committee (JOC) to mark World Diabetes Day.

Aiming to unite the global diabetes community to produce a "powerful voice" for diabetes awareness and advocacy, the JOC shared healthy lifestyle tips and advice on its official online social media channels, including among its 74,000 Facebook users.

This will help the public "prevent, control and reverse" the condition, it is hoped.

With 34 per cent of Jordanians over the age of 25 living with diabetes, sport has a fundamental role to play in the wellbeing and development of the Kingdom, it is thought.

“Living with diabetes is similar to any of life’s challenges," said Heba Rahhal, fencing bronze medallist at the 2011 Pan Arab Games in Amman.

"It’s a roller coaster, you can’t always be on top of things, and that is okay.

"The key is to live life fully with its ups and downs, managing to pull yourself up and dealing with all the challenges that come your way and keep changing.

"To do so with a determined smile, a positive approach and with no limitations is the key."

Former fencer Heba Rahhal has spoken about living and playing sport while suffering from diabetes ©JOC/Facebook
Former fencer Heba Rahhal has spoken about living and playing sport while suffering from diabetes ©JOC/Facebook

The JOC's campaign forms part of its "Living Sport" communications plan, seeking to encourage all Jordanians to make sport and healthy living a part of their daily lives.

Approximately 86 per cent of women over the age of 25 in Jordan are either obese or overweight and, with young people spending more time than ever before watching television, World Diabetes Day seeks to provide a "robust platform" to a promote the benefits of sport and the Olympic Movement to thousands of children in Jordan.

A total of 382 million people worldwide live with diabetes, with almost 10 per cent of that number living in the Middle East and North Africa Region.



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