Gifty Dade came from Ghana six years ago with her husband and children.

The registered nurse and Tarneit resident said it was her work on the wards at the Western Hospital which made her realise diabetes was increasing among African people.

"I have a family history of diabetes and then, when I was working on the ward, I realised that there is so much diabetes coming in," she said.

A diabetes educator for two years, Mrs Dade hopes educating the Wyndham African community about diabetes will not be the only benefit.

"There is the Ethiopian community, or the Nigerian community or the Ghanaian community, but we haven't got one big African community - now we just want everybody to come together."

Mrs Dade hopes the African community will feel more comfortable speaking to her as she shares similar experiences.

She said integrating was a challenge for many especially the new often sedentary lifestyle. Many African people were not used to TV and walking was often the only way of getting around.

"You have to plan to exercise here, whereas in our lifestyle you just do it.

"This increases our chances of having [diabetes], so we need to let people know what it is and how they can prevent it and what we can do to track it if we have it and to manage it better."

Symptoms for diabetes vary from feeling thirsty to tiredness, and Mrs Dade said many people did not make the connection between the signs and the illness.

Dietitian Rachael Evans will also be on hand to give advice on food and to talk about food labelling.

"Here you have to read labels, but we don't read labels

and sometimes if you do read them you don't know what

you are looking for," Mrs Dade said.

"Sometimes things might say they are cholesterol free, but they might be dangerous because they are high in other things."

The seminar is free and children under 14 will watch a movie while parents and teenagers are at the meeting.

Youth and their tendency to enjoy fast food made the information session vital for young people too, Mrs Dade said.

"They are the people who go for the takeaway foods and watch TV all day, rather than exercising."

The meeting is on Saturday at the Central Park Community Centre, 80 Lonsdale Circuit, Hoppers Crossing.

Call 0401 316 155 to confirm attendance.