Resources for Diabetes: The Constant Shadow

Monday, July 6, 2009 at 11:51 AM

• 1 in every 13 Americans has diabetes and the rate of new diabetes cases in the U.S. has nearly doubled in the last ten years
• Nearly a third of diabetics are unaware they have the disease
• $116 billion were spent on treatment and care for diabetes in 2007, nearly 5% of total health care spending that same year
• The disease is estimated to have cost an additional $58 billion in lost wages and productivity
• Of fourteen communities surveyed nationally, Cleveland had among the highest rates of leg amputations and preventable hospitalizations. Diabetes is believed to be the predominant cause for those statistics

The Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland offers some online resources to help you determine if you are at risk for developing Diabetes.

Risk factors for developing diabetes include...

• Family history (mother, father, sister, brother, grandparent, aunt or uncle)
• Increased thirst
• Being overweight or obese
• Frequent urination
• Being over the age of 45
• Extreme tiredness or weakness
• Being a person of color (American Indian, Hispanic, African American, Asian)
• Slow healing wounds or infections
• Having high blood pressure
• Pain, tingling or numbness in hands or feet
• Having high cholesterol
• Blurry vision
• Unexplained weight loss

Additional risk factors for women:

• Giving birth to a baby over 9 pounds
• Having diabetes during pregnancy

Diabetes is diagnosed through a blood test. A fasting test means you have not had anything to eat or drink for 8 hours before the test. A random blood test can be done at any time, whether you have had food or drink.

• Normal blood glucose: Fasting blood glucose between 70-99 mg/dL
• Pre-diabetes: Fasting blood glucose between 100-125 mg/dL
• Diabetes: Fasting blood glucose of 126 mg/dL or higher or random blood glucose over 200 mg/dL

There is no cure for diabetes. Healthy eating, physical activity and medication can control diabetes.

Events and Activites

Lakewood Hospital
Join Gina Gavlak RN, BSN Lakewood Hospital Diabetes and Endocrine Center and Joann Mraz, program director American Diabetes Association as they present:

• Updates on diabetes management
• Important questions to ask
• Benefits of a team approach
• Helpful plans to have in place

Please bring your questions, comments and concerns for discussion. Information folders will be distributed. This program is designed for school nurses, teachers (including physical education), school administration, bus drivers, coaches, counselors, food service staff, school board and 504 coordinators.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Please call (877) 234-FITT (3488) to register. Seating limited.
Time: Registration: 8:30 a.m. Program: 9 – 11:30 a.m.
Location: Cleveland Clinic Family Health Center
5001 Rockside Road, Independence, OH 44131

Camp Ho Mita Koda
Camp Ho Mita Koda was founded in 1929 by Dr. Henry John, a physician from the Cleveland Clinic, and his wife, Betty to serve his young patients with diabetes. The camp’s programs are designed for children with diabetes ages 4-15 to have fun, make friends, and learn about living with diabetes. Each session offers a variety of recreational activities and diabetes education. Hand-carved totem poles and animals - Dr. John’s work, augmented by that of nationally-known artisans - were added over the years to give the camp its distinctive charm. Camp Ho Mita Koda, whose name means “Welcome, my friend” in the Sioux language, is one of the oldest residential camps for children with diabetes in the United States. It is a subsidiary of the Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland, Cleveland’s only independent and local nonprofit organization dedicated to those living with diabetes. Photo credit: Duane Kertyzak and Camp Ho Mita Koda

Diabetes Associations and Resources

American Diabetes Association
1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383)
The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight against the deadly consequences of diabetes and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, their mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland
A local resource that can provide information and services here in Northeast Ohio.

• Free diabetes Risk Assessments are offered at the Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland offices every Tuesday morning from 9:30 to 11:00 AM. A parent or legal guardian must accompany minor children (under the age of 18) to sign a consent form before a risk assessment can be performed.

Healthline
Healthline provides a very comprehensive overview of Type 2 Diabetes as a critical starting point for individuals and/or their loved ones.

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Information on the Akron/Canton Walk to Cure Diabetes (September 26, 2009)
Information on the Cleveland Walk to Cure Diabetes (September 27, 2009)

Healthy Ohio Program
Ohioans have access to primary and preventive services as well as education and opportunities for healthy lifestyles, and the incidence of preventable diseases are at the lowest levels in the nation across all population groups. Services and care are coordinated through widespread use of health information technology, thereby improving health outcomes and delivering effective, efficient and culturally competent health care.

OhioHealth Online
A regional health care system that provides managed care services, and operates hospitals, primary care and off-site health facilities, as well as home care.

Food and Drug Administration
Journal of American Medical Association
Connecting doctors with research and information and patients with tools and tips to help manage diabetes.

American Heart Association
The American Heart Association created the Heart of Diabetes program to raise awareness of the disease and to help people with type 2 diabetes take action.

Journey to Wellness
Journey to Wellness is a healthy living resource for African Americans. Addressing diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and breast cancer.

Diabetes Prevention and Control
The Ohio Diabetes Prevention and Control Program (ODPCP) strives to improve Ohioans’ access to quality diabetes care and services for the purpose of reducing the burden of diabetes and its complications. Their goal is to make Ohio the place where people with diabetes live better lives.

Diabetes Coalition of Northeast Ohio
The Diabetes Coalition of Northeast Ohio is a community-based collaboration of physicians, pharmacists, diabetes educators, public health officials, employers and other stakeholders throughout Northeast Ohio whose goal is “to improve the quality of diabetes care delivered in our community through partnerships and collaboration and by increasing awareness, emphasizing prevention, and implementing consistent, evidence-based care management in a cost-effective manner.”

Cleveland Sight Center
Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of eye problems that people with diabetes may face as a complication of diabetes. All can cause severe vision loss or even blindness. Diabetic eye disease may include: cataracts - clouding of the lens; glaucoma - increase in fluid pressure inside the eye that leads to optic nerve damage and vision loss; or, Diabetic Retinopathy - damage to the blood vessels in the retina.

Diabetes Cost Reduction Act
The Diabetes Cost Reduction Act would ensure that Ohioans with diabetes who purchase their health insurance through state regulated insurance companies would be coverd under their policy for diabetes education, equipment and supplies.

Get in Circulation Campaign
The purple feet represent the Get in Circulation Campaign, an effort to increase public awareness about Peripheral Artery Disease by the PAD Coalition.

Additional Resources

• American Medical Association
• National Women’s Health Information Center
• National Women’s Health Resource Center
• Society for Women’s Health Research
• U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services- National Women’s Health Information Center
• National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute
• Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality
• National Alliance for Hispanic Health
• National Institute of Health
• National Stroke Association
• Office of Minority Health
• Ohio Commission on Minority Health

Disclaimer

This information is provided for general medical education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical judgment of a physician and/ or other health care providers relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition.

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