Sixteenth Annual Diabetes Wellness Expo Nov. 14

Picture of glucose meter and lancelet surrounded by fresh apples
Glucose meter surrounded by fresh apples

DOVER – Nearly 80,000 Delawareans have diabetes and an additional 84,600 people have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, adult blindness, lower-limb amputations, heart disease and stroke. The disease requires extensive medical monitoring and costly, lifelong treatment. However, the health impacts of the disease can be managed through healthier lifestyle choices and self-management of medications so people can enjoy a higher quality of life.

More than 50 exhibitors and screeners will showcase health services, supplies and programs to Delawareans with diabetes at the 16th Annual Diabetes Wellness Expo, to be held Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017, from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Dover Downs Conference Center. The free event, organized by the Delaware Diabetes Coalition (DDC), the Division of Public Health (DPH) and other partners, will bring together health care facilities, diabetes-related organizations and businesses to promote self-management and healthier lifestyles for people with diabetes and prediabetes.

The Expo includes educational presentations on: diabetes/prediabetes management, medication adherence, eating healthy, A1C control and the benefits of exercise. Blood sugar, blood pressure, foot care, eye exams and other screenings and tests are available. Free flu shots will also be provided at the Expo. A box lunch including a gourmet sandwich, fruit and beverage will be provided on a first come, first-served basis.

Overweight and obesity are major contributing factors for developing diabetes. In Delaware, 20.8 percent of adults who report being obese have been diagnosed with diabetes, compared with 3 percent of adults who report normal weights. People with pre-diabetes are at risk for developing type 2 (often called adult onset) diabetes, but they can significantly reduce that risk by increasing physical activity and eating a healthier diet. The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse estimates that between 90 percent and 95 percent of people with diabetes have type 2.

The 2016 Delaware Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (BRFS) provides information about compliance with recommendations for people with diabetes:

  • 57 percent say they check their blood glucose (sugar) levels one or more times per day. The recommended frequency is three times a day for most diabetic adults.
  • 33 percent see their doctor four or more times a year. An additional 35 percent say they see their doctor two or three times a year.
  • 75 percent of people with diabetes had an eye exam in which their pupils were dilated during the past year.
  • 77 percent said a health professional had checked their feet for sores or irritations one or more times in the past year.
  • Nearly half (47.2 percent) of all adults diagnosed with diabetes say they have taken a course or class in how to manage diabetes.

For more information, please call the Delaware Diabetes Coalition at 302-388-9728 or Delaware’s Division of Public Health’s Diabetes and Heart Disease Prevention and Control Program at 302-744-1020. You can also learn more about diabetes programs and resources at http://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/dpc/diabetes.html.

A person who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind or speech-disabled can call the DPH phone number above by using TTY services. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-232-5460 to type your conversation to a relay operator, who reads your conversation to a hearing person at DPH. The relay operator types the hearing person’s spoken words back to the TTY user. To learn more about TTY availability in Delaware, visit http://delawarerelay.com.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. DPH, a division of DHSS, urges Delawareans to make healthier choices with the 5-2-1 Almost None campaign: eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day, have no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day, and drink almost no sugary beverages.


Scholarships Support Higher Education For Young Adults With Diabetes

DOVER – The Delaware Diabetes Coalition in collaboration with the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is currently accepting scholarship applications for the 2017-2018 school year, from high school seniors who have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. The scholarship program, established in 2008, provides much-needed financial assistance to youth living with this chronic disease.

“Living with diabetes isn’t always easy for teenagers or their family,” said DPH Director Dr. Karyl Rattay. “Between keeping their diabetes under control, managing schoolwork and after-school activities, recreational play, stress and all the other daily life issues a teenager must cope with, it can be challenging. Additionally, families often face ongoing medical expenses related to their conditions. This scholarship program is an important tool to help alleviate the financial burden facing families and assist these young people in furthering their dreams.”

Eligible applicants must be residents of Delaware, currently enrolled as high school seniors, have diabetes, a GPA of 2.5 or higher, and plan to pursue education in an accredited higher education program. The student is required to write a 500-word essay entitled: “How Diabetes Has Impacted My Life Choices.” Two letters of support from non-family members are also required.

Two $1,000 scholarships are awarded annually. The scholarship is payable to the institution the student will be attending. For application criteria, procedures and the application form, visit www.dediabetescoalition.org. Awardees are required to attend the Delaware Diabetes Wellness Expo, which will be held at Dover Downs Hotel and Conference Center on Tuesday, November 14, 2017, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The 2016 scholarship recipients, Mary Lemma of Clayton and Clinton Rumley of Milford, say they are grateful for the scholarships.

“With the help of the coalition, I was propelled one step further so I can achieve my goal of becoming a health care professional, and to work towards a cure of Juvenile Diabetes”, said Mr. Rumley, Lake Forest High School graduate attending Delaware Technical and Community College. “This scholarship helped me with the costs of college and reminded me to be thankful, even for my type 1 diabetes,” said Miss Lemma, a Smyrna High School graduate attending the University of Delaware.

The deadline for applications with all required backup documentation is May 1, 2017. Notification of awards will be made no later than June 15, 2017. Submit all documents by email to: info@dediabetescoalition.org or call 302-388-9728 with any questions.

A person who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind or speech-disabled can call the DPH phone number above by using TTY services. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-232-5460 to type your conversation to a relay operator, who reads your conversation to a hearing person at DPH. The relay operator types the hearing person’s spoken words back to the TTY user. To learn more about TTY availability in Delaware, visit http://delawarerelay.com.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. DPH, a division of DHSS, urges Delawareans to make healthier choices with the 5-2-1 Almost None campaign: eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day, have no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day, and drink almost no sugary beverages.