Take Control: Diabetes Prevention Starts with You
By Maria T. Martinez, community health educator
January 1, 2010
Many of us know of someone with Diabetes. The story of Angela Lopez, 53 years of age Cuban, encourages support and motivation for others faced with a Diabetes diagnosis. Angela was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes a little over a year ago. She never liked going to the doctor, but she felt so sick that she forced herself to go.
After conducting a physical, her doctor diagnosed type 2 diabetes and said that she probably had it for some years. “First I needed to forgive myself for not eating right or working out. I accepted that I have type 2 diabetes, and now I face it head on” said Angela.
She decided that no matter how much her life was centered on food and how much she loved to eat unhealthy foods, it wasn’t worth dying for and it was time to make a change. In Angela’s congregation, a group of volunteers organized a health ministry which offered health education classes and support for persons living with diabetes. She learned how to monitor her blood pressure, blood sugar, and A1C (average blood sugar levels). She participated in healthy cooking classes and started to lose weight. Meanwhile, Angela continued to visit her doctor for follow-up care and treatment.
Among Hispanics/ Latinos, diabetes prevalence rates are 8.2 percent for Cubans, 11.9 percent for Mexican Americans, and 12.6 percent for Puerto Ricans (National Diabetes Education Program, 2008).
In Miami-Dade County, African Americans constitute 14.3% of self-reported prevalence of Diabetes (2006 Professional Research Consultants (PRC), Community Health Survey). “Diabetes is a growing epidemic among African Americans – yet one third of all people who have this condition aren’t even aware that they have it,” said Dr. Gladys Gary-Vaughn, Chair of the NDEP’s African American Work Group.
The good news is type 2-diabetes can be prevented by assessment and education to bring awareness and support to people at high risk. Congregations can make a difference in prevention efforts through education on how to eat, move, and live smart to prevent Diabetes. For more information on health education resources and on how to organize a support group in your church, please contact Ms. Maria T. Martinez, Congregational Health Department of Baptist Health South Florida at: 786-594-6751. You may contact Diabetes Education Program of Baptist Health at: 786-596-3696.
Diabetes Education and Prevention is the World Diabetes Day theme for the period 2009 - 2013. For more information on World Diabetes Day visit www.worlddiabetesday.org