Promoting healthier communities.
The Help A Diabetic Child Foundation and The Lions Club International have partnered with Meals of Hope to screen for diabetes. We recently started this partnership and have realized how important our presence in the community has become. Diabetes screenings are an important way to help individuals understand their risk while also making our community a healthier place. Screenings help our community members learn about diabetes and understand their current health status. When necessary, we have referred members to get care. We do this because we know the importance of healthy living and how important it is to take care of yourself. Unfortunately, we see this a lot in a world filled with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes.
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Diabetes screenings are an important way to help individuals understand their risk while also making our community a healthier place."
Diabetes diagnoses are on the rise.
According to the World Health Organization, 422 million people worldwide have diabetes with the majority living in low-income countries. Both the number of cases and prevalence of diabetes has been on the rise these past few decades. Due to this, we understand how important it is to work closely with the children and families we serve to provide them with diabetes education. Our registered dietitians, Alejandra and Itchequeria are at most of the screenings and are available on the ground here in Naples and in Immokalee for nutrition education.
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Early detection means better patient outcomes. Â
During the screening, if children are found to have an abnormal high blood glucose level upon screening, they are immediately referred to our grant program with The University of Florida. They are then given a diabetes navigator, Tara Tallaksen to coordinate services via our Telehealth program. Tara is usually the first point of contact for families in need. Tara works directly with children who have been affected by obesity, prediabetes, and diabetes. A diabetes navigator is an integral part of care offered by University of Florida Health Pediatric Endocrinology, with support from the Naples Children & Education Foundation and proudly, Help A Diabetic Child. On behalf of this program, we want to thank the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF) for their help in covering the cost of the diabetes screenings.
