If you know someone who has had a heart attack, kidney failure, an amputation or has gone blind, there’s a 50:50 chance it was caused by diabetes. Diabetes itself rarely will kill you; it’s the complications that do the damage. The effects of diabetes also lead to one in three strokes. Chris Baty, National President Diabetes New Zealand, says Diabetes Awareness Week (17-23 November 2009) aims to “hammer home the insidious nature of diabetes and its complications, which cause much pain and suffering both to people with diabetes and their families.” Ministry of Health Chief Advisor Dr Sandy Dawson also says, "We have just updated the national estimates and for the first time, the number of people with diagnosed diabetes exceeds 200,000. There are also about 100,000 people who have diabetes but have not yet had it diagnosed." The rates of diabetes in Maori and Pacific communities are around three times higher than for the rest of the population. Dr Dawson says, "One of the six National Health Targets for the health sector aims to increase the number of people with diabetes accessing free annual checks, and ensuring that these people get the best possible advice and support to reduce their risks of complications.”