Newspaper Page Text
4 - The Savannah Tribune • Wednesday, January 21, 2009
HEALTH NEWS AND FEATURES
American Diabetes Association Reaches
Out to the Community about Diabetes by
hosting Diabetes University
Savannah, GA - Diabetes is
the biggest public health cri
sis of the 21st century, and it
continues to grow to epidem
ic proportions. Nearly 24
million children and adults
in the U.S. have diabetes,
including 17,000 in Chatham
County. Diabetes is the lead
ing cause of heart disease,
stroke, kidney failure, blind
ness, and amputations. Since
1987 the death rate due to
diabetes has increased by
45%, while the death rates
due to heart disease, stroke,
and cancer have declined.
Life Story:
JoAnn Hill, a Savannah
native, was 30 years old
when she was diagnosed
with diabetes. It was 1985
and Hill was pregnant with
her first child. Hill had
developed gestational dia
betes, a type of diabetes that
occurs in pregnancies but
disappears when child is
bom.
During her first preg
nancy, Hill was ordered on
bed rest, diet, and insulin. ‘‘I
was shocked and over
whelmed because I didn’t
know what diabetes was. My
older sister became my sup
port system, in helping me
through daily routines,” says
Hill. After her son was bom,
blood glucose levels
returned to normal and the
gestational diabetes disap
peared. Three years later, in
1988, Hill developed gesta
tional diabetes again during
her second pregnancy. This
time, she was not ordered on
bed rest or insulin; main
tained normal routines.
When Hill became pregnant
the third time, she was
scared. Dr. Persad, Hill’s
doctor, warned her of been
diagnosed with gestational
diabetes again due to the
prior pregnancies. Hill did
develop gestational and was
put on 100 units of insulin.
A history of diabetes
runs through the Hill family.
Her father was not diagnosed
until his 70s and died in his
90s after complications of a
second amputation. Later,
followed by her older sister’s
death related to this chronic
disease. In addition to her
family history, Hill’s hus
band of 18 years also has
diabetes. Hill’s three chil
dren have not been diag
nosed. However, if her
daughter has a daughter,
there is a high risk of devel
oping diabetes.
Hill, who is now 54,
struggles with the complica
tions of type 2 diabetes. She
has been admitted to hospi
tals numerous of times due
to this disease. Blood glu
cose levels have either been
too high or to low. At one
point, Hill’s doctor thought
she may be insulin resist
ance, where the body’s cells
fail to utilize glucose for
energy and metabolism. In
2004, Hill had a kidney
transplant and was on dialy
sis for six months. Years
later, Hill was in a coma for
four days and suffered from
a stroke in 2007. As a treat
ment plan, Hill uses 12 units
of insulin after every meal
and every night. Also, she
has to watch her diet and
exercise.
Hill understands the
life-threatening complica
tions of diabetes and wants
to help others. As the number
of diagnosed diabetes con
tinues to grow, so does the
need for diabetes education.
THE SAVANNAH TRIBUNE
1805 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Savannah, Georgia 31401
Ph. (912) 233-6128 FAX (912) 233-6140
www.savannahtribune.com
Shirley B. James
Publisher and Editor
Tanya Milton
Vice President/Advertising Director
tanya@savannahtribime.com
Sharon P. Smiley
Managing Editor
sharon@ savannahtribune .com
Andre’ Allen
Graphic Designer
A. Camille James
Education Editor
Zyon D. Smiley
Staff Writer
Rachelle J. Gregory
Staff Writer
Frederick D.Gregory
Staff Writer
Walter Moore
Sports Writer
Published weekly by The Savannah Tribune, Inc.
Deadlines for news releases and advertisements:
Fridays 12:00 noon
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
One Year $55.00
Mail your check or money order today!
The opinions expressed in this publication are
not necessarily those of the publisher.
Third class postage paid at Savannah, Georgia
Member:
National Newspaper Publishers Association
NNPA - Washington, D.C.
All rights are reserved. No part of this work may be repro
duced or copied in any form or by any means, graphic, elec
tronic or mechanical including photography, without writ
ten permission of the publisher.
The millions of stories
such as JoAnn Hill, allows
the American Diabetes
Association to further our
mission: to prevent and cure
diabetes and to improve the
lives of all people affected by
diabetes.
The American Diabetes
Association is hosting
Diabetes University on
Saturday, January 24, 2009 at
The Armstrong Center
(13040 Abercorn Street
Savannah, GA 31419) for all
people affected by diabetes.
Doors will open at 8:15 a.m.
with five sessions covering
twenty topics.
Diabetes University
2009 is a full day educational
program designed to educate
all people affected by this
disease. The program is rec
ommended for people with
diabetes, as well as family
and friends of people with
diabetes who have a desire to
learn more about managing
this disease.
Pre-registration is
required for this educational
program and space is limited.
The pre-registration fee of
$10.00 and walk-up registra
tion fee of $15.00 per person
includes entry to all of the
program sessions, including
the panel discussion by sub
ject matter experts. Ask the
Experts tables will offer med
ication interaction evalua
tions, glucometer diagnos
tics, nutrition advice, blood
pressure screenings, and
Body Mass Index (BMI)
assessments. Registration
fee can be waived upon
request.
People may request a
registration form by calling
the American Diabetes
Association at 912-353-8110
ext 3095.
National Black HIV/AIDS
Awareness and Information Day
Join us and participate
in National Black HIV/AIDS
Awareness and Information
Day. February 7, 2009 has
been designated as National
Black HIV/AIDS Awareness
& Information Day.
The Facts: Blacks are
disproportionately affected
by HIV/AIDS. Whiie mak
ing up only 13 percent of the
U. S population, they
account for more than 49
percent AIDS cases. AIDS is
now the leading cause of
death for Black women ages
25 to 34. and the second
leading cause of death for
Black men ages 35 to 44.
The Coastal Health District
which is inclusive of
Savannah (Chatham County
Georgia) has the second
highest number of reported
HIV/AIDS cases in the state
as of September 2008. Only
the Atlanta metropolitan area
has more reported cumula
tive HIV/AIDS cases.
Intervention: My
Brothaz HOME, Inc. will
offer free rapid HIV
Counseling & Testing,
Prevention Education and
Referrals on this date. For
more information, please
call 912-231-8727 or visit
our office at 2111 Price
Street, Savannah. You may
also visit our website at
www.myQrQ! ,hazhome. org
or www.QlackaiQsdayorg.
First Steps-Parents of Newborn Program
introduces new Parent Education Classes
The First Steps pro
gram is pleased to announce
the arrival of its latest parent
education classes Baby
H.U.G.S. (Help Us Grow
Safely). These fun and inter
active classes are available to
any parent of children from
birth through 1 year of age.
The purpose of these classes
is to help reduce the isolation
often felt by new families
and provide a meaningful
tool to ensure parent & child
bonding and to stimulate the
healthy growth & develop
ment of infants. There are a
total of 12 stand alone topics
ranging from sleep to nutri
tion.
We are excited to offer
these fun, interactive,
baby/child-friendly classes at
the Ronald McDonald
Hospitality Room located on
the 4th floor of the Life Care
Building at Candler Hospital.
Classes will be offered two
times a month and many of
the classes will provide par
ents free books to take home
to build their child’s library.
This program is an
extension of the support that
the First Steps-Parents of
Newborns program already
offers the parents who partic
ipate in this program. We
hope to extend to the support
to as many parents of new
borns as we can with this
new addition.
The First Steps pro
gram is a primary child
abuse prevention program
that uses trained volunteers
to offer emotional support,
parenting education, and
referrals to community serv
ices to all parents. It is the
only parent support program
in Chatham County that is
hospital based and volunteer
driven. Initial contact is
made in the hospital setting
shortly after baby’s birth.
Follow-up telephone contact
and support continues for a
minimum of three months
after delivery. In Chatham
County, the First Steps pro
gram operates as a partner
ship between the Coastal
Empire R.O.C.K. Group
(Raising Our Children
Kindly) as the program spon
sor, and the St.
Joseph’s/Candler Health
System as the partner agency
and host site.
We will hold our first
class-“Goodnight Baby” fea
turing the book, Goodnight
Moon on January 22 at
10:00AM.
Health Talks About Cancer: Teal Ribbon Project
MorningStar Cultural
Arts Group is partnering
with Savannah Jewish
Federation Family Services
to present a series of Health
Talks about Cancer offered
at the Jewish Educational
Alliance (JEA is 5111
Abercorn Street) the last
Tuesday of the month start
ing in January. Call
912.355.8111 for more info.
All presentations are
free and open to the public at
the JEA. Save the following
dates:
Haw You Pul Oil fining to the Dentist
Because You're Airaid It Will HURT?
Experience The Gende Touch
of Dr. Ann Linton
234-0789
1310 Abercorn St. (At Henry St)
Mtndaif-Thurcdav 9ani-6:30|liu
VISA
www .a nerconivaiMihfdeittaijconi
"We are hereto serve
altvourdefitafi health
■eels in airien illy and
relaxed atmosphere."
Bed Consultations
Emergencies m
How Patients Always Welt into
'Chtnirui and Adlibs
'Crowns a Bridges
larUa is a Dentures
laser BenKsfrvAvallab to
Most Insurance Accented
'Easy Financing Atmfe
Senl sr Cbim nOtwoums
\ Ioli(osts (Pad ftrcalh)
Screening & Treat merit
Implant Dentistry
Tuesday, January 27,
2009 at 7:00 p.m. Are you at
risk for cancer?
C. Shai Huffard-King,
MS, CGC, a Genetic
Counselor will lead the dis
cussion which will include
Dr. James J. Burke, II, MD ,a
gynecological oncologist and
general surgeon Dr. Ray
Rudolph, MD.
Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009
at 7:00 p.m. Been There:
Won That will include dis
cussions of diet, life changes
and personal inspirations that
helped local friends fight and
win their challenges with
cancer. Peter Broadhead of
Brighter Day Health Foods
will discuss nutrition as a
means of coping with dis
ease.
Tuesday, March 31,
2009 at 7:00 p.m. Hot
Flashes: Cutting Edge
Detection and Treatment in
Cancer as presented by
Hadassah trained, Emory
University Geneticist Dr.
Laura Tillinger.
Health
Matters