Pennsylvania Department of Health offers diabetes forum
There is such a thing as a free lunch, at least this Friday. The Pennsylvania Department of Health is offering not only lunch, but a full day of information, screenings and activities for diabetics. The free diabetes forum will be held this year at the Hiller Fire Hall in Luzerne Township, just outside of Brownsville. The forum, open to residents from throughout the area, attracted about 150 people last year when it was held at Penn State-Fayette, The Eberly Campus, last year. Diabetes nurse consultant Pam Toy said so far about 100 people have registered for the program this year.
Toy said the Brownsville area was selected for the forum because of the reduced access to medical care in the Brownsville area since Brownsville General Hospital closed in January.
“Mainly, people don’t like to travel for medical care in the rural areas. There was a diabetes education program before right there in the hospital,” Toy said. “They either have to go to Uniontown or Highlands or Morgantown instead.”
Toy said she isn’t certain how many people no longer participate in diabetes education programs since the Brownsville General Hospital program ended. Toy said education about diabetes management is important.
“Fayette County does have the highest death rate from diabetes in our district,” Toy said.
The district includes the 10 southwestern Pennsylvania counties surrounding Allegheny County, Toy said.
Toy said it’s hard to keep track of the diabetes statistics, since patients generally are treated for problems related to their diabetes, not the diabetes itself.
Speakers Friday will include Dr. Jill Felder, an endocrinologist/nephrologist, speaking on diabetes care and kidney disease; Dr. Lewis H. Kuller, speaking on heart disease and diabetes; and a diabetes patient speaking about empowerment.
Interactive activities will include cooking demonstrations, games, retinal and blood pressure screenings, body fat analysis, depression screening, foot screenings and a blood glucometer check for those who bring their glucometer to the event. Additional topics will also be addressed and door prizes will be given out.
To register for the free event, call the Fayette County State Health Center at 724-439-7400.