American Diabetes Association accepting applications for junior board

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                                                          Contact:
Taylor Spratt
American Diabetes Association
(205) 870-5172 ext. 3079
tspratt@diabetes.org

 

AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR JUNIOR BOARD

BIRMINGHAM, Ala – (March 6, 2012) The American Diabetes Association is now accepting applications for the local junior board. Those who are interested are invited to the Prospective Member Mingle on Thursday, March 15, 2012 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. The event will be located at XYZ Lounge in the Aloft Hotel in Homewood.

The junior board is the young professional arm of the American Diabetes Association, working to promote its mission to prevent and cure diabetes and improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes through research, advocacy and fundraising. The main responsibilities of the junior board will be to aid ADA in the planning and implementation of Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes®

Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes® is a vital component of the American Diabetes Association’s movement to Stop Diabetes. The signature one-day, fundraising and awareness walk takes place in the following Alabama cities: Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery and Tuscaloosa. This fundraising resource contributes funding for critical diabetes research that will change the future of the approximately 470,000 adults and children in Alabama who are living with this disease.

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes® and its deadly consequences and is fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure, and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides credible information; and gives a voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes.

 

Prospective Member Mingle
Thursday, March 15, 2012
XYZ Lounge at Aloft Hotel
1903 29^th Avenue South
Homewood, Ala 35209
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

24th Annual American Diabetes Association Alert Day

24th Annual American Diabetes Association Alert Day

 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – (March 1, 2012) With the month of March already upon us, American Diabetes Alert Day is quickly approaching. Alert Day, a one-day call to action for people to learn their risk of developing diabetes, is March 27, 2012.  The American Diabetes Association, along with Alabama’s 13, Birmingham Business Journal and HealthSpring, will host a variety of events during the month, including:

 

·    March 17, 2012: Fitness N Motion 5K at Point of Grace Ministries from 8 am – 12 pm

·    March 26, 2012: Phone Bank at Alabama’s 13 from 5 pm – 10:30 pm

·    March 27, 2012: Health Fair located at Brookwood Mall from 11 am – 2 pm

·    March 27, 2012: Alert Day Health Fair/Healthsmart located at HealthSmart/UAB 

·    March 27, 2012: Alert Day Lunch & Learn located at Gorgas Library Room 205 at UA from 11:30-1pm       

·    March 31, 2012: Spin-a-thon at the University of Alabama Rec Center from 1 pm – 6pm                                            Online registration: tuscaloosaspinathon.eventbrite.com 

 

The goal of the 24th annual Alert Day is to raise awareness, serve as an educational method for people within the community and get as many people as possible to take the risk test through the “Take it. Share it” initiative. By recreating the diabetes risk test, the American Diabetes Association will distribute a test that is not only more test-taker friendly, but easier to be shared via social media platforms. Test takers will be strongly encouraged to share the risk test by using social media as a method to raise awareness among family and friends.

 

Diabetes is a terrible disease that affects nearly 26 million people in the United States. A quarter of those people do not even know they have diabetes. Alabama is ranked as the state with the highest incidence of diabetes, as there are approximately 470,000 individuals living with diabetes in the state. Diabetes can affect anyone – no matter the age. Recent numbers indicate that there are nearly 2,900 students enrolled in the Alabama public school system with diabetes.

 

The American Diabetes Association continues to strengthen the commitment to increase awareness of diabetes by actively promoting preventative measures, such as weight loss, healthy eating and physical activity. Alert Day is a momentary time in which an enormous amount of awareness can be generated. The American Diabetes Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides credible and objective information and gives a voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes.

 

Alabama Alert Day

 

 

 

For More Information, contact:

Annah Grace Morgan

American Diabetes Association

(205) 870-5172 ext. 3071

amorgan@diabetes.org

Living with Type 2 – a Free, 12-month Program

The American Diabetes Association provides many tools for people suffering from diabetes to learn how to cope and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Living with Type 2 Diabetes is a free, 12-month program aimed toward doing just that. It is an essential resource that helps people recently diagnosed with diabetes through the first year living with the disease.

 

The program takes the stress out of searching for information about diabetes and serves as a message center for various categories of information. Those who sign-up for the program get access to recipes for healthy meal ideas, tips for managing blood glucose, ideas for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and information on medications. The program is available in both English and Spanish and the option of receiving information online or by mail is offered to users as well.

 

Over the 12-month period, those utilizing the program will receive:

• Three copies of Diabetes Forecast
• Monthly e-newsletters containing recipes, tips, and stories about people living with diabetes 
• And, five informational packets containing information on how to manage diabetes 

 

Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes. Unfortunately, the prevalence rate is on the rise as millions of Americans are diagnosed each year.

Stopping Diabetes but Moving Along With Change

 

Contact: Aimee Casey, Executive Director                                       FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Telephone #: 205.870.5172, Ext. 3070

E-mail: acasey@diabetes.org

NEW BLOG: DIABETES STOPS HERE: LIVING WITH DIABETES; INSPIRED TO STOP IT

Stopping Diabetes but Moving Along With Change

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (October 13, 2010) On October 11, 2010, the American Diabetes Association started their first nation-wide blog Diabetes Stops Here: Living with Diabetes; Inspired to Stop It that helps those who are involved with diabetes to voice their stories about their dealings with this epidemic.

The association’s Dayle Kern, Manager, Communications who has lived with type 1 diabetes for nearly 10 years will be the blog’s author sharing the stories, interviews and news of those affected by diabetes.

 “There have been so many touching moments in the movement to Stop Diabetes since we launched last year,” commented Larry Hausner, CEO, American Diabetes Association according to diabetes.org. “People have shared courageous stories of facing their diabetes head on, while others have shared their heart-breaking experiences of losing a loved one because of diabetes. The blog is a new way to raise our collective voices and tell people why we need to Stop Diabetes once and for all.”  

-more-

Stop Diabetes Blog

p. 2

Executive Director, Aimee Casey expressed, “This blog will allow everyone to hear stories of everyday people struggling with diabetes and the strength it takes for them to live their lives; which I hope will persuade readers to help To STOP DIABETES in order to ease the burden on those affected by getting involved in local programs and events.”

The first post which is entitled “Why ‘Stop Diabetes’?” gives information on why the movement against diabetes is called Stop Diabetes while also providing an interview from someone who is affected by diabetes which one can visit the website for further details at www.diabetesstopshere.org.

This blog will give the general public a more in-depth look on the lives and everyday struggles against diabetes in which additional sponsors will join in the fight so that a cure can be found for the millions affected by it.

The ‘Stop Diabetes’ movement here in Birmingham has taken the form of the Step Out: Walk to fight diabetes, which has raised over $145,000 so far through  with our local walks in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, Ala. Two additional walks will be conducted in Huntsville (October 30) and Montgomery (November 6) as well as our African-American Program Diabetes Workshop (November 13) to further help inform the public of your movement.

According to the 2008 BRFSS (Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System), Alabama ranks #3 in the nation for the prevalence of diabetes while Jefferson County has the highest prevalence of diabetes in the state at 12.6%.  Diabetes affects 400,000 people in the state, which is approximately 1 in 10. The communities of: Eastlake, North Birmingham, Woodlawn, West End, Ensley, and Bessemer have a higher concentration of diabetes.  If current trends continue, 1 in 3 children born after the year 2000 will develop diabetes in his/her lifetime; minority children have a disproportionate risk of 1 in 2.

-more-

Stop Diabetes Blog

p. 3

The American Diabetes Association in Alabama/Mississippi is based in Birmingham.  This chapter has been involved with social media for a while.  You can check out local information at http://adaalabama.wordpress.com/ or follow on twitter and facebook @ADAAlabama. 

The American Diabetes Association is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research, information and advocacy. Founded in 1940, the Association has offices in every region of the country, providing services to more.  November is American Diabetes Awareness month.

 

-end-

 

Being Aware of the Risk!

I sit down at my office desk for the first time ever as American Diabetes Association AL/MS’s intern. I go through the usual introductory and orientation videos as I have done before at other organizations, but this time is different.

I thought that I had a decent grasp on diabetes and its complications, after all I have a family history of diabetes, but as I  click-through the diabetes tutorial I realize that the information about diabetes is endless. I click past Module 8, page 12 of the Diabetes Orientation and I realize that there are plenty of modules left. History. Types. Complications. Symptoms. At Risk People. Preventative Action. Insulin. Research. It is easy for the information to build up and cause the head the spin, but suddenly it stops and I think, “What is my risk?”

Luckily, ADA’s Web site (www.diabetes.org), has a risk test. I sit down and I go through the assessment.

First question: gender-Female; Second question: age-24; Third question: have you ever developed diabetes during pregnancy?-No; Fourth question: Does your father, mother or sister have diabetes?-No; Fifth question: What race/ethnicity best describes you? White/Caucasian; Sixth question: Has a doctor ever told you that you had hypertension also called  high blood pressure?-No; Enter your height and weight (Come on it is a personal blog entry, but not that personal!);  Ninth question: Compared to most men and women your age would you say that you are more active, less active or about the same?-About the same.

That is it. The Risk Test thanked me for answering the questions and said that my “risk for having pre-diabetes or diabetes is low.” It suggested that I talk to my doctor on how to keep it low. It also stated that even though I am considered ‘low risk’ I did have some risk factors and that I should maintain a healthy lifestyle (diet and exercise!).

The Diabetes Risk Test took me not even five minutes to complete! Please click on this link to know your risk! http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/prevention/diabetes-risk-test/?&utm_source=GlobalCarousel&utm_medium=SitePromotion1&utm_campaign=RISK

RISING HEAT MEANS RISING CONCERN FOR PEOPLE WITH DIABETES

As the summer temperatures rise, people diagnosed with diabetes should be aware of the proper precautions to taking care of themselves and their medicine.

Results in a new study, conducted by Adrienne Nassar, MD, third-year medical resident at Mayo Clinic, Arizona, show that people do protect themselves from the heat such as drinking more fluids, applying sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, avoiding the heat by staying indoors, and being aware of the weather and rising temperatures.

While these precautions are important, 36% of patients leave medications or supplies at home when going out in the heat, despite knowing that they should protect their diabetes medications and glucose-testing supplies from heat exposure.”

The Mayo Clinic in Arizona has conducted research that shows that people with diabetes are more likely to be hospitalized, experience dehydration, and even death due to the heat. Nassar states, there needs to be more patient and public education about the effects of heat and diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research, information and advocacy. Founded in 1940, the Association has offices in every region of the country, providing services to more than 800 communities. To learn more about diabetes, visit the American Diabetes Association website at www.diabetes.org or call 1-888-DIABETES.

Baby Fat May Not Be So Cute After All

by Roni Caryn Rabin, New York Times, March 23, 2010

Most anti-obesity efforts for youth have targeted schoolchildren and teenagers‚ but some studies show that interventions during the toddler years‚ infancy‚ and in utero may prevent obesity and lower the risk of diabetes.

One in 10 children under age two years is considered overweight, and the percentage of children ages two to five who are obese increased from 5 percent in 1980 to 12.4 percent in 2006. Last year, an Institute of Medicine study began looking at obesity prevention in children ages zero to five years and examining sleeping, feeding patterns‚ and physical activity. One study found a link between gestational diabetes in the mother and diabetes in children among Pima Indians. According to the data‚ children born after the mother developed type 2 diabetes had a higher body-mass index in childhood‚ and they had a nearly four times higher risk of developing diabetes as siblings born prior to the diabetes diagnosis.

New York Times (03/23/10) P. D5

Thank You!

The American Diabetes Association of Alabama would like thank everyone who came out and participated in our Health & Wellness Event at Riverchase Galleria on Tuesday March 23. We especially would like to thank HealthSpring for sponsoring the event and helping us raise awareness about the severity of diabetes and the impact it is having on our nation.

Our event would not have been a success without the generosity of the vendors too. Thanks for helping raise awareness and taking the time out of your day to take part in our event. By taking part in Alert Day you helped lay the foundation for individuals to live a better life through eating correctly and exercising, while educating them on how they can prevent diabetes.

Diabetes Facts:

 -23.6 million Americans have diabetes

-1.6 million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed in people aged 20 years and older each year

-5.7 million people do not know they have diabetes

-Diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death listed on U.S. death certificates in 2006

-Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults aged 20–74 years

-$174 billion: Total costs of diagnosed diabetes in the United States in 2007

For more facts or information visit: diabetes.org

What a success!!!

Thanks to all of those who came out last Thursday to Blackwell’s Pub to help kick off The Vestavia Hills Chamber Young Professionals, benefitting the American Diabetes Association. We could not be here without your help and were amazed at the turn out. We would like to give a special thanks to Blackwell’s for providing a great venue and atmosphere to have the event, VHCYP for partnering with us for the event and 106.9 for providing great music.

We hope everyone had a great time. Thank you!

Together we can STOP Diabetes.

An Olympian with Diabetes

At the age of 29, Cross-country skier Kris Freeman will be heading to his third consecutive Winter Olympics. Kris is believed to be the first athlete with Type 1 diabetes to compete at a world-class level, as well as in an endurance sport. Diabetes Forecast Magazine caught up with Kris before the games to talk about everything from: his race for the gold medal, living with diabetes and how he manages diabetes while competing in an endurance sport.

Check out the inspirational article about Kris Freeman by clicking on his picture.