Mississippi leads the nation in incidents of diabetes per capita. In November, National Diabetes Awareness Month, Oktibbeha County Hospital will offer awareness and prevention programs.
According to Renee Taylor, OCH diabetes educator, the programs are intended to improve the daily lives of people with diabetes and show different approaches to diabetes prevention.
“Through education they will learn how to manage their diabetes and live a healthier life,” Taylor said. “Knowledge is power, and information is how you get it.”
Stephanie Johansen, regional director for north Mississippi said approximately 285,000 people in Mississippi have diabetes and it is estimated that another 95,000 have diabetes but don’t know it.
Johansen summed up the massive spread of diabetes by explaining that it has become a “very devastating disease in Mississippi.”
Taylor said diabetes is a 99 percent self-care condition and can be prevented.
Christy Ford, a Type-II diabetic offered advice to those who do not have diabetes.
“Get up off that couch, eat healthy and you won’t have a problem. You can avoid it,” Ford said. “It changes your entire life. And you don’t have to get it.” Programs began Wednesday with the OCH sixth annual Diabetes Lunch and Learn program. Taylor presented “Diabetes Prevention: A Healthy Lifestyle Approach.”
Over 70 people participated in the program, which emphasized how a healthy lifestyle can help to prevent diabetes, Taylor said.
The Mississippi Walk for Diabetes will be at Propst Park in Columbus Sunday at 2 p.m.
Johansen said there will be a 1-mile and a 3-mile walk.
For adults there is a minimum donation of $20, which participants raise through donations and sponsors.
“One-hundred percent of the money raised stays in Mississippi, and 91 cents of every dollar goes toward charitable purposes,” Johansen said.
The donations will benefit programs like Care for Kids, which sends children to camp, and Helping Hands, which helps provide medicine and supplies to those who need assistance.
Prizes will be awarded to participants who raise $50 or more. There will be an ugliest sneakers contest, pet parade, karaoke and face painting.
Registration begins at 1 p.m. and the festivities begin at 2 p.m.
OCH has scheduled other events for the month.
The annual VHA Video Program will be in the Educational Facility Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. The program will feature “Diabetes Dialogue: Hope for the Future,” moderated by Phylicha Rashab, an actress from the Cosby Show.
According to Taylor, there will be refreshments, door prizes and numerous educational materials provided.
OCH will also hold a “Twist and Shout Diabetes Blow Out” Nov. 18. Fitness instructor Mandy Conrad will lead the workout.
Taylor said the program will be an exercise class for people with diabetes, and blood glucose levels will be checked before and after the workout free of charge.
“They will see first-hand that exercise can lower their blood sugar level,” Taylor explained.
Taylor added that instructors will be in 50s costume, and those attending are welcomed to dress 50s and “sweat to the oldies.”
The workout will begin at 6:30 p.m. There are no fees and no reservations required.
Type II diabetes develops as the need for insulin rises, and the pancreas gradually loses its ability to produce insulin. It accounts for 90 to 95 percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. It is often associated with physical inactivity, older age, obesity and a family history of diabetes.
In Type I diabetes, which was previously called insulin-dependent diabetes, the body’s immune system actually destroys pancreatic cells. This leaves the body virtually unable to regulate blood glucose. This accounts for 5 to 10 percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. It usually attacks children and young adults, forcing them to be dependent on insulin injections or and insulin pump.
“Now, the statistics say that one of every three children born today will develop diabetes at some point in their life,” Johansen said.
With the widespread effects of the disease, special care should be taken to spread awareness and prevention methods.
“There is no cure, but it can be controlled and it can be prevented,” Taylor said. “That’s what this month is all about.”