NIH Radio
NDEP Launches Diabetes Managment Campaign Geared Towards Older Adults
Brief Description:
The National Diabetes Education Program wants the 18.3% of people aged 60 or over with diabetes to know they are in control when it comes to managing the disease.
Transcript:
Schmalfeldt: If you're one of the 18.3% of people aged 60 or over with diabetes, you're in control when it comes to managing the disease. That's the message being shared by the National Diabetes Education Program — a joint Federal program of the National Institutes of Health and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention — as they launch a newly updated campaign called "The Power to Control Diabetes is In Your Hands." The campaign was kicked off October 20th during an event at the Fort Stevens Recreational Center in Washington, DC. Doctor Griffin Rodgers, Deputy Director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, laid out some of the goals of the campaign.
Rodgers: Perhaps the most important is to try to tell the participants of the importance of blood glucose control in delaying or preventing the complications of the disease of diabetes. And the way to control that blood glucose is to eat properly, to engage in regular physical activity, to take medications as prescribed, and to regulary check and monitor their blood glucose.
Schmalfeldt: For older adults with diabetes and their loved ones, NDEP offers a brochure with tips on how to manage the disease. For community organizations around the country, there are kits with information to help their older adult members with diabetes live longer, healthier lives. Doctor Rodgers talked about what's in those kits.
Rodgers: The kit will include information regarding sensible eating plans, the necessity for physical activity on a regular basis and some suggestions on how that might be accomplished in a reasonable manner, also reference information related to how one can obtain further information about this, as well as Medicare information.
Schmalfeldt: For more information about the National Diabetes Education Program, or to get free copies of the Power to Control brochure and community action kit, visit the NDEP website at www.ndep.nih.gov or call 800-438-5383. From the National Institutes of Health, I'm Bill Schmalfeldt in Bethesda, Maryland.
About This Audio Report
Date: 10/21/2005
Reporter: Bill Schmalfeldt
Sound Bite: Dr. Griffin Rodgers
Topic: Diabetes, Aging
Institute(s): NIDDK
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