MORAVIA - According to numerous studies, it is estimated that as many as 15.8 million Americans are battling diabetes and as many as 5.2 million more are completely unaware they even have the disease.
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
Paul Troiani speaks with Jo Halstead, of Silver Sneakers Fitness Program, during the Diabetes Health Fair at Moravia Fire Hall Wednesday afternoon.
Paul Troiani speaks with Jo Halstead, of Silver Sneakers Fitness Program, during the Diabetes Health Fair at Moravia Fire Hall Wednesday afternoon.
“And those numbers just keep going up ever year,” said Jean Shields, an RN and patient services coordinator for Family Health New York of Central New York. “Diabetes is an epidemic in this country and many people don't know that they have it or what to look for.”
As a means of spreading awareness of the ever-increasing numbers of people with diabetes, Family Health New York first organized a diabetes awareness day at the Moravia firehall last year.
Shields said that due to low attendance, it was decided to change days and times this year, in a hope of getting more people to stop at the firehouse and get some of the information that was made available.
“This is something serious,” Shields said. “So we knew that we wanted to do this again this year. And we have been able to get more vendors and more information here, it has really grown a lot and we hope we can share this with more people this year too.”
Facilities and organizations like Cortland Regional Medical Center and Cornell Cooperative extension were on hand as well as vendors demonstrating the latest in diabetes testing equipment Wednesday.
Representatives from the Kinney's Drug Store in Moravia, one of the event's major sponsors, were also on hand.
“We like to be part of things like this in our community,” Kinney's manager Douglas Schermerhorn said. “We like to do things that promote wellness , not only for people who are already our customers, but also to make other people aware of what we offer for the health of people in our community.”
Schermerhorn was displaying the Life Vial, a large medicine vial that patients can use to keep all their prescription and drug information together in case of emergency so that it will readily be available to EMTs and physicians.
Given the number of Americans known to have diabetes and including those that are not aware of it, Shields said that it is crucial to make people aware of the signs and factors to look for as well as what is out there to combat diabetes.
Shields said there are several factors that can make an individual more inclined to have diabetes, including age,
obesity, lack of exercise and high blood pressure.
Also some groups like Native Americans, Hispanics and blacks have a disposition toward developing diabetes.
“It is important to be aware of this,” Shields said. “A lot of different complications can develop. Poor circulation in the eyes can lead to blindness. High blood pressure can lead to vascular disease; poor circulation in the feet in the most extreme cases can lead to amputation. Heart attacks and stroke are also possible.”
Diabetes can be broken into two basic categories, type one, characterized by a loss of insulin producing beta cells, which most often occurs in younger people and type two, which leads to reduced insulin sensitivity or insulin resistance, which tends to affect older people.
But increasingly, Shields said, cases of type two diabetes are being found in younger and younger people.
“We are encouraging screenings earlier and earlier,” Shields said. “Obesity is a big factor in this happening in younger people. Video games and computers and television are big factors. Kids aren't getting out and getting enough exercise. Schools have also been removing soda machines and candy machines and cafeterias have been looking at their menus to make them healthier. Diet is also a big factor in younger people.”
While Shields said there are numerous medications that are available for treating and managing diabetes in both forms and in both young and adult patients, there are several important areas to look at for both populations.
“Exercise is a big one,” Even if it is just a walk to the corner and back once a day or parking far away at the grocery store. Being active is incredibly important. A good diet with fruits and vegetables. But most important is to know the risk factors and the signs to look for and to know what you can do to prevent or at least manage your diabetes. That is our goal here, just to make people aware of what they can do.“
As a means of spreading awareness of the ever-increasing numbers of people with diabetes, Family Health New York first organized a diabetes awareness day at the Moravia firehall last year.
Shields said that due to low attendance, it was decided to change days and times this year, in a hope of getting more people to stop at the firehouse and get some of the information that was made available.
“This is something serious,” Shields said. “So we knew that we wanted to do this again this year. And we have been able to get more vendors and more information here, it has really grown a lot and we hope we can share this with more people this year too.”
Facilities and organizations like Cortland Regional Medical Center and Cornell Cooperative extension were on hand as well as vendors demonstrating the latest in diabetes testing equipment Wednesday.
Representatives from the Kinney's Drug Store in Moravia, one of the event's major sponsors, were also on hand.
“We like to be part of things like this in our community,” Kinney's manager Douglas Schermerhorn said. “We like to do things that promote wellness , not only for people who are already our customers, but also to make other people aware of what we offer for the health of people in our community.”
Schermerhorn was displaying the Life Vial, a large medicine vial that patients can use to keep all their prescription and drug information together in case of emergency so that it will readily be available to EMTs and physicians.
Given the number of Americans known to have diabetes and including those that are not aware of it, Shields said that it is crucial to make people aware of the signs and factors to look for as well as what is out there to combat diabetes.
Shields said there are several factors that can make an individual more inclined to have diabetes, including age,
obesity, lack of exercise and high blood pressure.
Also some groups like Native Americans, Hispanics and blacks have a disposition toward developing diabetes.
“It is important to be aware of this,” Shields said. “A lot of different complications can develop. Poor circulation in the eyes can lead to blindness. High blood pressure can lead to vascular disease; poor circulation in the feet in the most extreme cases can lead to amputation. Heart attacks and stroke are also possible.”
Diabetes can be broken into two basic categories, type one, characterized by a loss of insulin producing beta cells, which most often occurs in younger people and type two, which leads to reduced insulin sensitivity or insulin resistance, which tends to affect older people.
But increasingly, Shields said, cases of type two diabetes are being found in younger and younger people.
“We are encouraging screenings earlier and earlier,” Shields said. “Obesity is a big factor in this happening in younger people. Video games and computers and television are big factors. Kids aren't getting out and getting enough exercise. Schools have also been removing soda machines and candy machines and cafeterias have been looking at their menus to make them healthier. Diet is also a big factor in younger people.”
While Shields said there are numerous medications that are available for treating and managing diabetes in both forms and in both young and adult patients, there are several important areas to look at for both populations.
“Exercise is a big one,” Even if it is just a walk to the corner and back once a day or parking far away at the grocery store. Being active is incredibly important. A good diet with fruits and vegetables. But most important is to know the risk factors and the signs to look for and to know what you can do to prevent or at least manage your diabetes. That is our goal here, just to make people aware of what they can do.“
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