The statistics can be startling: about one in 11 Americans has diabetes, someone is diagnosed with the disease every 23 seconds and 89 million are at risk. And, according to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes remains the 7th leading cause of death in the United States.
In conjunction with November’s observance of National Diabetes Awareness Month, Parkland Health & Hospital System will host a Diabetes Awareness Day event from 8 a.m. – noon on Monday, Nov. 14 at the Bluitt-Flowers Health Center, 303 E. Overton Road, Dallas, 75216. Bluitt-Flowers is one of Parkland’s 12 Community Oriented Primary Care health centers located throughout Dallas County.
The event is open to the public at no cost and will feature Parkland diabetes team members and a representative from the American Diabetes Association presenting information on a variety of topics including diabetic medication, insulin and monitoring, foot care, eye care, as well as meal planning, cooking demonstrations and games. Glucose screenings will also be available.
“Diabetes is at epidemic proportions in America and in Texas, and is taxing the health of our population and our economy. The time for action is now,” said Luigi Meneghini, MD, Executive Director of Parkland’s Global Diabetes Program and Professor of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
“The goal of the event is to provide useful, practical information to the community in a relaxed and casual environment so participants can learn about the disease and make better lifestyle choices that help them manage diabetes or even prevent it,” said Sharon Cox, a registered dietitian at Parkland who is coordinating the event.
Kellie Rodriguez, CDE, Director of Education & Community Engagement for the diabetes program, emphasized that “screening is important, since 25 percent of patients with diabetes do not know they have the condition. Just as worrisome is the estimate that about 89 million Americans have prediabetes, a condition in which sugar levels are not high enough to be classified as diabetes, but are elevated above normal levels. Persons with prediabetes have a 50 percent chance of developing type 2 diabetes if they don’t make significant lifestyle changes, such as diet and physical activity.”
