Muskogee 'Diabetes Awareness Day' seminar to feature experts in many areas of diabetes care
OKLAHOMA CITY —Most experts now use the word “epidemic” when describing the
rising incidence of diabetes in the United States. Without preventive action,
one in three children born in the year 2000 will develop diabetes in their
lifetime, and by 2050 a projected 29 million Americans will be diagnosed with
the disease, according to a recent study by the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services.
With these grim numbers in mind, the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation
Services (DRS) Visual Services Division put together a seminar to help inform
health care providers on treatment options and the public on aspects of the
disease and prevention measures. “Diabetes Awareness Day” will be held on
Thursday, Nov. 9 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Northeastern State University
Auditorium, 2400 W. Shawnee Street, Muskogee, Okla. Attendance is free and
registration is not required.
Mila Loya, vocational rehabilitation specialist with the DRS Visual Services
Division said, “With the medical consequences of diabetes on the rise, along
with the associated rehabilitation services needed, we felt a real need to
address this issue now. Through this collective effort with regional experts, we
can heighten the community’s awareness of the impact of diabetes both now,
during National Diabetes Awareness Month, and in the future.”
Kevin Treese, training specialist with the DRS added, “The collaboration of
vocational rehabilitation counselors, medical professionals and support groups
offers the best possible method to help with the rehabilitation efforts of
people who have diabetes, and to educate others about the disease itself.”
“The more people know about this disease the more likely they will be to make
healthy choices in their daily living. Education is one of our best defenses
against diabetes.”
Two of the common major health consequences of having diabetes are blindness or
low vision and neuropathy of the extremities that, many times, leads to
amputation. Both of these topics will also be addressed during the seminar.
For more information about the seminar or to register, call Mila Loya at the DRS
at 918-781-4170 or e-mail.