According to the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 23.6 million people in the United States have diabetes, but 5.7 million of them don’t know it yet.In 2005 it was estimated that 325,854 people in Alabama had been diagnosed with diabetes; 8,878 of those in Calhoun County, a little disproportionate considering Calhoun County ranks eighth in the state among diabetes cases, yet is 10th in population.
Because of these and other alarming numbers, the American Diabetes Association has named November as American Diabetes Month®.
Locally, Jacksonville has two resources for those wanting to know more about this potentially deadly disease.
On the last Tuesday of every month, except December, at 6:30 p.m. a diabetes support group meets at the First Presbyterian Church. Led by Ethelyn Brown, who works as a diabetic educator in Gadsden, the group serves as a way for diabetes sufferers and their spouses to learn more about the condition and talk about what has worked for them.
“At the time there were 14 people in our church with diabetes and, in a church as small as ours, that’s a lot of people,” said Brown of the origins of the group.
Brown began her work in diabetes education in 1995, long before she was diagnosed with the disease. Her own family history made gaining and sharing knowledge of diabetes a priority for her.
“I’ve always had a strong interest in diabetes because diabetes is hereditary, so it’s in my family,” said Brown. “It’s real strong on my dad’s side, but it’s on my mother’s side as well.”
The support group has slowly grown over the years through word of mouth and flyers placed at doctors’ offices and she also has another one in Gadsden that meets on the third Monday of each month at 6 p.m. in the 300 building of Gadsden Regional Medical Center.
Brown emphasizes regular testing and good communication with doctors to all the members of her group. At their next meeting, on November 25, the group will talk about dining out.
Jacksonville Medical Center also offers education and resources to those who have been diagnosed with diabetes. Moli Masaniai teaches a diabetes education course quarterly on the first Friday of the last month of the quarter. The next class will be December 5.
Though the course is free, Masaniai prefers to have physician referrals on anyone wishing to take the class so she can be sure the proper tests have been done on each participant and she knows there will be follow-up care.
The class typically lasts from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes time with a dietician to discuss food options.
“They get to go to the cafeteria with a dietician and they are amazed at how much they can have that they though they couldn’t have,” said Masaniai, adding that the course also includes instruction from nurses on foot care and checking blood sugar.
For more information on the JMC class or to sign up for the December course, call the education department of the hospital at 435-4970.
