National Diabetes Awareness Month is

National Diabetes Awareness Month is recognized every November as an opportunity for individuals, healthcare providers and organizations across the country to call attention to the disease and its impact on millions of Americans. The American Diabetes Association reported 29 million Americans have diabetes. That’s 1 out of every 11 people, additionally another 86 million Americans are reported at risk for developing diabetes. Rates higher than the national average can be found in portions of southeastern Ohio. Diabetes is listed as the seventh leading cause of death in the US. It kills more people than breast cancer and AIDS combined. Diabetes is a disorder that results in the body’s inability to process blood sugar. Diabetes can occur in various forms, but the most common are type 1 and type 2. Type 2 is a chronic condition that affects the way the body processes blood sugar. The pancreas may produce enough insulin, but the body doesn’t process it effectively. Obesity is one of the leading risk factors of Type 2 diabetes. Prescription medications can effectively regulate blood sugar levels with this form of the disease. Type 1 is a chronic disease in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Medicinal insulin must be injected to regulate blood sugar levels. Type 1 can be triggered by an autoimmune malfunction that eliminates the pancreas ability to produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that triggers muscle and fat cells to absorb blood sugar as a fuel source. A person needing insulin injections is referred as insulin dependent. Type 2 if left untreated will cause the insulin producing pancreas to “burn out,” rendering the person insulin dependent. Medicinal insulin must be injected to survive, transforming the condition to one similar to Type1. Jennifer Yoder, the faculty advisor for Ohio University’s chapter of the College Diabetes Network knows how complicated the disease can be. “Diabetes as a disease is multifaceted, there are a lot of areas that it touches,” Yoder said. “Everybody is touched by diabetes in some way.” Ohio University recognizes the increasing number of diabetes patients and is countering the epidemic with research, education and support. Ohio University established the Diabetes Institute in 2012 as an effort coordinate their resources, provide collaboration between departments and increase its efficiency to better assist people affected by diabetes. Ohio University’s Diabetes Institute Executive Director Darlene Berryman noted community involvement is one of the main objectives. “There are a number of services we’re able to provide,” Berryman said. “We have a number of activities specifically to bring awareness and screening for diabetes to the community.” Events began Saturday Nov. 5, when Ohio University’s chapter of the College Diabetes Network (DOSES) provided diabetes prevention tips, education and survey questionnaires at Kroger. Student volunteers greeted customers at the entrance Saturday morning while handing out fliers. Jennifer Yoder the faculty advisor in charge of the event said, “We were able to inform people about diabetes prevention and we ran out of fliers, so yeah, I think it was a success. The Heritage Community Clinic, located on the ground floor of Grosvenor Hall, will be providing diabetes centered healthcare Tuesday Nov. 8, from 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. An appointment will be required for diabetes patients who qualify. For more information, call 1 800 844-2654. A diabetes coalition aimed to provide a continuing education resource for diabetes educators will be held at the OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital basement classrooms Wednesday Nov. 9, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Speakers will include Nicholas Mezitis, MD; Jason Kendrick, BBS; and Cheryl Howe, PhD. For more information or to register, email vanbibbe@ohio.edu. Ohio University will join in recognizing Monday Nov. 14, as World Diabetes Day. This event will grant diabetes communities around the world an opportunity to unite and promulgate a powerful voice for diabetes awareness and advocacy. A diabetes research seminar will be held Friday Nov. 18, at 3 p.m. in Grover Center room W115. David M. Harlan, MD from the University of Massachusetts will present, “New Tools to Educate Diabetes Pathogenesis and to Deliver Better Care.” The Diabetes Institute will present The Diabetes Expo Saturday Nov. 19, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Athens Community Center. The expo will feature food, facts and fun, along with an opportunity for community interaction and involvement. This event will be open to the public and best of all it will be free. For more information, visit, www.ohio.edu/diabetes/. The OU Chapter of the College Diabetes Network will host the Bring Diabetes To Light 5k Sunday Nov. 20 at the Athens Recreation Center. Registration time will be 10 a.m. with the race starting at 11. Registration will cost $15 with the proceeds aiding to send a local child to a diabetes summer camp. Pre-registration is available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bring-diabetes-to-light-5k-tickets2838054998 For more information email, gw035112@ohio.edu The OU chapter of the College Diabetes Network is informally known as DOSES. It is a student organization comprised of student diabetics who are eager to participate in community involvement. DOSES stands for Diabetes Outreach Support and Education for Students, but as group president Charles Riley explains the organization does a little more. “So ultimately what we want to do is make Ohio University the most diabetes friendly campus in the nation, Riley said. “And we also want to do community outreach around the campus because we’re in South Eastern Ohio, we’re in Appalachia, so we’re in the diabetes belt. It’s so prevalent in the area that we want to try to educate people and support people in the community. Diabetes education and exercise are two of the best ways to prevent onset of the disease, and Ohio University provides opportunities for individuals to pursue both.