Parkland hosts diabetes-related events for public, health professionals
National Diabetes Awareness Month stresses prevention, education
The numbers don’t lie: 660,000 people in Texas don’t know they have diabetes; 37 percent of Texans have prediabetes; 11 percent of Dallas County residents have diabetes; and over 30,000 patients with the condition currently receive care at Parkland Health & Hospital System.
“Diabetes is a serious public health issue in Dallas as it is throughout the nation,” said Luigi Meneghini, MD, Executive Director of the Global Diabetes Program and Parkland and Professor of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center. “It remains the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. Our goal is to educate, support and encourage a healthy lifestyle free of disease complications for people with diabetes. The Global Diabetes Program at Parkland provides a comprehensive approach to improve access to clinical care and more closely connect patients to care in their local communities.”
During November, Parkland is offering two free diabetes awareness events open to the public featuring Parkland diabetes team members presenting information on a variety of topics including medications for diabetes, insulin and glucose monitoring, foot care, eye care, nutrition and cooking demonstrations, along with free giveaways and healthy snacks.
Parkland Diabetes Awareness Day event times and locations are:
Monday, Nov. 13, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Bluitt-Flowers Health Center
303 E. Overton Road, Dallas, TX 75217
Tuesday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Southeast Dallas Health Center Atrium (1st floor)
9202 Elam Road, Dallas, TX 75217
In addition, Parkland and UT Southwestern Medical Center are hosting the 10th annual Diabetes Management Conference, attended each year by hundreds of multidisciplinary health professionals, on Nov. 10 at Fellowship Dallas, 9330 North Central Expressway, Dallas 75231. For more information, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/10th-annual-diabetes-management-conference-tickets-37551677077
Kellie Rodriguez, CDE, Director of Education & Community Engagement for the Global Diabetes Program, stated, “Education and screening is vital since 25 percent of patients with diabetes do not know they have the condition. Just as worrisome is the estimate that about 89 million Americans have prediabetes, a condition in which blood sugar levels are not high enough to be classified as diabetes, but are elevated above normal levels. Persons with prediabetes have a 50 percent chance of developing type 2 diabetes if they don’t make significant lifestyle changes, such as diet and physical activity.”
The Global Diabetes Program is part of Parkland’s continuing efforts to combat diabetes. The program is patient-centered and multidisciplinary, involving physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, behavioral health experts, social workers and financial experts across Parkland.
The Healthy Living with Diabetes Education Program at Parkland is recognized by the American Diabetes Association. To learn more about Parkland’s Global Diabetes Program, visit www.parklandhospital.com or call 214.590.7219. To learn more about Parkland services, visit www.parklandhospital.com.
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