Community involvement drives diabetes education
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[August 16, 2011]
(ARA)
- Diabetes is a well-known disease, affecting over 8 percent of the
U.S. population. However, many adults are living with type 2
diabetes and are not aware they have the disease, according to the
American Diabetes Association. Symptoms like frequent urination,
blurred vision and excessive thirst often don't appear until after
the disease develops. Because of this, frequently a diagnosis isn't
made until a serious complication - such as heart disease, stroke,
kidney disease, eye damage or nerve damage - has occurred.
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Educating
adults about type 2 diabetes and getting them to check their
risk is vital, says Kathy Rosenkranz, an American Diabetes
Association volunteer and the public relations director for
Wisconsin Lions Multiple-District 27-A2. One way to do this is
through community events. Kathy distributes Stop Diabetes
Community Leader Kits to the Lions Clubs in her district to help
them reach out in their communities, encourage people to get
tested for diabetes and get more people to take the Diabetes
Risk Test.
The American Diabetes Association distributes the Stop Diabetes
Community Leader Kits, which contain health brochures,
information on how to live with diabetes, Diabetes Risk Tests
and Stop Diabetes promotional materials, in an effort to get
people with type 2 diabetes diagnosed and treatment started
earlier. The Diabetes Risk Test asks simple questions about
weight, age, family history and other risk factors for diabetes.
"The Lions Clubs found that the kit was an easy thing to hand
out at their events," Rosenkranz says. "Even if we touch one
person, we can make a difference."
Type 2 diabetes often affects people who are overweight,
underactive and older than 45, according to the American
Diabetes Association. African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos,
Native Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders and people
who have a family history of the disease are also at an
increased risk.
The year-round Stop Diabetes Community Outreach Toolkit was made
possible as part of a three-year, $1.5 million grant to the
American Diabetes Association from the WellPoint Foundation, the
philanthropic arm of WellPoint, Inc. and one of the country's
leading funders of programs working to improve health and
wellness.
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"Diabetes is
affecting far too many people and providing information is essential
to helping reduce the occurrence of diabetes," says Lance Chrisman,
executive director of the WellPoint Foundation.
Community groups interested in working with the Association to
distribute the kits and educate local residents about the risks of
diabetes can visit stopdiabetes.com or call (800) DIABETES
(800-342-2383).
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