Tag Archives: Diabetes

8th Annual Bilingual Diabetes Conference: Por Tu Familia

By North SA Chamber Editor
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ADA_Por Tu FamiliaSaturday, Sept. 27, the American Diabetes Association will host the 8th Annual Por Tu Familia Conferencia, sponsored by H-E-B. This FREE event includes activities such as: interactive bilingual educational workshops presented by physicians, nurses and diabetes educators, health information and resources for the whole family, free health screenings, cooking demonstrations by HEB, and giveaways and prizes.

Over 29 million adults and children in the United.States.are living with diabetes and an additional 86 million have pre-diabetes. If current trends continue, one in three children will face a future with diabetes. People with diabetes can take steps to manage the disease and lower the risk of its deadly complications. Early diagnosis and treatment of diabetes is critical. Unfortunately, many people living with diabetes do not even know it. Coverage of this important event is essential in educating the San Antonio population about local programs and events, advocacy activities and research being conducted in your community. Staff will be on hand to interview in English and Spanish.

For more information about diabetes or Por Tu Familia Conferencia, call (210) 829-1765 ext. 6129, or visit diabetes.org/portufamiliasatx. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

What: American Diabetes Association 8th Annual Por Tu Familia Conferencia
When: Saturday, Sept. 27, 8:00am-2:00pm
Where: The Neighborhood Place – 3014 Rivas St., San Antonio, TX 78228

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight against the deadly consequences of diabetes and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

American Diabetes Association 2014 Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes Kick-Off Rally

By North SA Chamber Editor
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PrintJoin our Honorary Chairs Dr. Brian Woods –  Superintendent of Northside ISD, Ed Garza – Former City of San Antonio Mayor and SAISD President District 7, Dr. David M. Player – Founder, Chairman and Principal of Health by Design and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) along with other community leaders at the Kick-Off Rally for Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes on Wednesday, September 10th, from 6-8 p.m. It is being held at The County Line – 10101 Interstate 10.

This event will rally together Step Out participants from across the city to share in the excitement of the 2014 Step Out event, which will unite thousands of people to help STOP DIABETES. We will be publicly introducing our 2014 Youth Ambassador for Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes. Participants will also enjoy great BBQ while hearing from community leaders such as the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and will learn about the toll diabetes is having on this city and throughout the country. The rally will motivate and encourage teams to build enthusiasm for taking the first step to stopping diabetes through fundraising for Step Out. Step Out has already garnered the support of many companies in our community, both large and small, as well as family groups, clubs, and organizations. You will have the opportunity to speak with individuals who have stepped up to create and lead teams for Step Out and hear why they feel so strongly about ending this disease. Please join them in their fight to support the American Diabetes Association!

What: American Diabetes Association 2014 Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes Kick-Off Rally
When: Wednesday, September 10th, 6-8pm
Where: The County Line – 10101 Interstate 10
RSVP: www.diabetes.org/stepoutkickoff2014

Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes is one of the American Diabetes Association’s signature events. This annual walk brings communities together all across the country to raise funds for diabetes research and education as well as to raise awareness about diabetes right here in San Antonio. Participants will enjoy entertainment and themed rest stops along with prizes, food and multiple “zones” with lots of activities for the whole family. This year’s Step Out event will feature a 5K Walk/Run & 1 Mile Short and Snappy Family Walk. Step Out will be held at the Mission County Park Pavilions in San Antonio on Saturday, November 8, 2014.

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight against the deadly consequences of diabetes and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes, delivers services to hundreds of communities, provides objective and credible information, and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

Calling all companies: 2014 Corporate Recruitment Event

By North SA Chamber Editor
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CRE Walk LogoDiabetes is a leading cause of heart attack, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, and amputation. For companies, it also leads to more sick days and less productivity on the job.

According to Kaiser Family Foundation data, the American Diabetes Association’s workplace cost calculator estimates that for a company with 1,000 employees:

  • 100 employees have diabetes
  • 27 of them are undiagnosed
  • 250 have prediabetes
  • $2.7 million is the average annual insurance cost for employees with diabetes and prediabetes
  • $912,438 is the annual increased cost if 50 percent of employees with prediabetes develop diabetes

The good news is, type 2 diabetes can be prevented, and it isn’t as hard as you might think. Losing just 7% of your body weight (which translates to 15 pounds if you weigh 200 pounds) and exercising moderately (like brisk walking) 5 days a week can reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes by 58%. Lifestyle changes also can prevent or delay diabetes complications. Companies can help their employees take control of their health while enjoying interactive team-building events by participating in Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes.

Join the American Diabetes Association (ADA) along with our Honorary Chair Dr. Brian Woods of Northside ISD, Corporate Recruitment Chair Stacy Rice of Peripheral Vascular Associates, Step Out Event Chairs Lenore Gregson of Kaiser Medical Managemet & Jay Gregson of Hallmark College, as well as other community leaders at the Corporate Recruitment Event for Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes on June 26, 2014 at Casa Hernán, 411 E. Cevallos, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.   This free informational event will be our official kick-off to the 2014 Step Out: Walk, which will unite thousands of people all over the city to help STOP DIABETES.

This is the key event in which to learn more about this community’s diabetes epidemic, the costs of diabetes to companies attending, and how the ADA can help.  Companies will also have the opportunity to meet the people mentioned above who are supporting our efforts this year and will walk away with free resources for your company. This event emphasizes the importance and value of having the business community take a leadership role in the fight to cure diabetes, while also creating a healthier environment for all employees.

What: American Diabetes Association 2014 Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes Corporate Recruitment Event

When: Thursday, June 26th, 6-8pm

Where: Casa Hernán, 411 E. Cevallos

RSVP: Email Lisa Gibson at lgibson@diabetes.org or call us at (210) 829-1765 ext. 6124

Many of the escalating costs of healthcare are out of an employer’s control.  However, one of the most effective things an employer can do to control healthcare costs and improve employee health and productivity is to encourage healthy living in the workplace. Please join us in that fight!

Local residents riding to stop diabetes at the Annual Valero Tour de Cure

By North SA Chamber Editor
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Valero tour de cureThis year, nearly 1,000 area cyclists will come together to be part of the Stop Diabetes® movement at the Valero Tour de Cure San Antonio on Saturday, May 10, 2014. The American Diabetes Association’s Valero Tour de Cure San Antonio showcases a one day ride from Retama Park throughout the beautiful Texas countryside. Riders secure funds in advance of the event all proceeds go toward the fight to STOP diabetes. All riders will enjoy a safe and well-marked route, superior SAG (support and gear), medical support, and outstanding volunteer support.

Valero logoToday, there are nearly 26 million Americans—including 14% of the San Antonio population—who have diabetes. While an estimated 18.8 million have been diagnosed, unfortunately, 7 million people are unaware that they have the disease. If current trends continue, one in three American adults will have diabetes by 2050. The Valero Tour de Cure San Antonio not only provides funding for research projects to help end diabetes and improve the lives of those affected by diabetes, but also provides an outlet to help South Texans live healthier through developing an affinity for cycling and incorporating physical activity into their daily lives.

This event offers routes for all levels of cycling experience. The Tour is a one day event featuring fully-supported and safe, family-friendly routes that showcase the most scenic and peaceful areas of this prominent Texas region. There are several route choices from 1 mile to 100 miles, ensuring that everyone from the family with children to the avid cyclist will find something to love about this community event.

Registration is only $25 with a fundraising minimum of $200 for adults and $50 for children 14 and under. Each rider raises the required $200 minimum to fund diabetes research, education, and advocacy, and will receive the 2014 Tour de Cure commemorative t-shirt. Additional incentives are available for riders who raise even more.

Register today or sign up on site at the event to become part of the movement to Stop Diabetes. To register or for more information, visit www.diabetes.org/sanantoniotour or call 1-888-DIABETES.

The Tour de Cure is a series of fundraising cycling events held in 44 states nationwide to benefit the American Diabetes Association. The Tour is a ride, not a race, with routes designed for everyone from the occasional rider to the experienced cyclist. Each Tour de Cure event has its own character and style—from unique starting points to gorgeous scenery and more! No matter where you ride you’ll enjoy a fun day on your bike for a great cause. In 2011, more than 55,000 cyclists in 80 events raised more than $18 million to support the mission of the American Diabetes Association: to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. National sponsors include Gold’s Gym and Clif Bar; local sponsors include Valero, Argo Group, and Zachry.

About American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

2014 Stop Diabetes @ Work Wellness Symposium

By North SA Chamber Editor
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stop_diabetes_at_work_logoResearchers estimate that 75% of all healthcare costs directly stem from preventable chronic health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, obesity and hypertension.

The American Diabetes Association is here to help! Join us on Thursday, February 20, from 7:30 – 10:30 a.m. for the 2014 Stop Diabetes @ Work Wellness Symposium and learn how to utilize free community resources to make your workplace healthier.

At the Stop Diabetes @ Work Symposium, you will learn from community experts about how diabetes is impacting San Antonio businesses. We will have everything your Human Resource and/or Wellness Manager needs to help change the statistics for your employees and implement a culture of health and wellness – for FREE!

WHO:
The American Diabetes Association

WHAT:
2014 Stop Diabetes @ Work Wellness Symposium

WHEN:
Thursday, February 20th, 7:30 – 10:30am

WHERE:
Broadway Bank – Charles Cheever Administration Building
(1177 N. E. Loop 410, San Antonio, Texas 78209)

COST:
Free! (Healthy continental breakfast included)

HOW:
Register today – email Lisa Gibson at lgibson@diabetes.org or call (210) 829-1765 ext. 6124
Seating is limited!

More than 1 in 7 San Antonio residents have been diagnosed with diabetes, which is drastically higher than the U.S. national average of 9%. Total nationwide annual cost of diagnosed diabetes in 2012 was $245 billion. The American Diabetes Association estimates that $1 in $5 health care dollars is spent caring for someone with diagnosed diabetes.

There is a critical need to focus on diabetes in the workplace as the diabetes epidemic continues to grow. For companies large and small, a key to controlling spiraling health costs is to help employees prevent and manage diabetes. Strategies for preventing and controlling diabetes can also reduce the risk for heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Research has shown that lifestyle modifications can reverse this trend and improve blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose levels. Lifestyle changes also can lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, certain types of cancer, and sleep apnea.

Worksite wellness programs that encourage, educate and mo­tivate employees to make lifestyle modifications are cost-effective and can lead to greater productivity. For example, employees with diabetes who improve their glucose control have significantly higher productivity and lower absenteeism. Health plan expenses are 26% lower for employees whose diabetes is in good control than for those employees whose diabetes is in poor control.

For that reason, the American Diabetes Associa­tion offers Stop Diabetes @ Work (SD@W), an evidence-based program that, in cooperation with employers, addresses diabetes awareness, detec­tion, prevention, and successful management. This program can be used as a stand-alone healthy worksite initiative or it can be used in conjunction with a larger worksite wellness program.

The diabetes epidemic continues to grow and your current and future employees are being affected at an alarming rate. The connection between work environments, em­ployee health, and employee productivity is clear. Prevention makes good business sense. Investing in awareness, behavior change, and environmental support can lead to short-term and long-term improvements in employee health and productivity. The American Diabetes Association’s Stop Diabetes @ Work resources can help.

For more information about Stop Diabetes @ Work or the 2014 Stop Diabetes @ Work Wellness Symposium, contact David Whitt at dwhitt@diabetes.org or (210) 829-1765 ext. 6127.

Make Freedom Reign for People with Diabetes

By North SA Chamber Editor
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American Diabetes logoMartin Luther King, Jr.  Rosa Parks.  Just two of the many civil rights leaders who fought for our personal freedom—some went to jail, others died in their fight for equality. Yet, today, inequities remain. Even though, through reform, expanded healthcare will be widely available to millions of Americans, injustice in health care remains.

Reverend King’s baritone still echoes across our country, “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.” Today I ask you to grab hold of the courage of our forefathers and help speak out on behalf of people with diabetes:

  • Unless we take action, as many as one in three adult Americans will have diabetes by 2050.
  • We must Stop Diabetes® from robbing us of family traditions, healthy memories, and quality of life.
  • We must embrace the patient’s right to health, healthcare, and health insurance.
  • We must secure legislation to address our unique needs, such as prevention efforts.
  • We must continue to find ways to fight inequities and disparities.
  • And, unless we fight for equality, some of our loved ones with diabetes may continue to experience unfair treatment at work, at school and in other parts of daily life.

Diabetes is an epidemic in the United States:

  • Diabetes was the fifth leading cause of death for African Americans in 2006.
  • 4.9 million non-Hispanic African Americans aged 20 years or older have diabetes.
  • Non-Hispanic African-Americans are 77% more likely to have diabetes compared to Caucasians.

We must unite to make freedom reign for people with diabetes—talk about, write about, help spread the word about the urgent need to Stop Diabetes and Get Involved:

  • Sign up to be a Diabetes Advocate. Receive updates and alerts that provide information about key issues, and help you create and deliver timely messages to your elected officials.
  • Reflect on the great historic strides made towards equality. Reach for the strength of our heroes and celebrate their legacies by advocating for positive changes.
  • Help win healthcare equality for our communities, our families, and future generations by stopping the growing diabetes epidemic in the African American community.
  • Learn about the Live Empowered®/African American Programs—call 1-800-DIABETES (342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org

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