Diabetes is a serious illness that affects more than 20 million individuals
in the United States and an estimated 82,000 Alameda County residents.
Furthermore, physicians at Washington Hospital’s Diabetes Center
warn that many more individuals in Alameda County — perhaps as many
as 30,000 — may be unaware they have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.
Uncontrolled, diabetes can lead to kidney failure, vision problems, heart
and circulatory issues and complications that may exacerbate other health
problems, according to Dr. Prasad V. Katta, an endocrinologist and Medical
Co-Director of the Diabetes Center.
To educate the public and to provide important information to those with
diabetes as well as friends and family members, the Washington Hospital
Diabetes Center sponsors the Diabetes Matters program, a series of free
monthly public seminars held on the first Thursday of each month from
7 to 8 p.m., except July. The public is encouraged to attend any or all
of the seminars.
On Thursday, January 7, from 7 to 8 p.m., Yvonne Dobbenga-Rhodes, RN, will
discuss “Goal Setting for Diabetes Success.” Her talk will
be followed by a Diabetes Support Group meeting from 8 to 9 p.m. The public
is encouraged to attend the seminar program and/or the support group meeting.
The Diabetes Support Group program is ongoing and open to all individuals
living with diabetes, including family members and friends of diabetes
patients. The support group allows individuals to have in-depth conversations
about what’s happening in their lives and to share information about
dealing with diabetes. The support group meets in the hour following the
monthly seminar programs (8 to 9 p.m.) in the same space.
“Active management of diabetes is critical to prevent dangerous complications
common to uncontrolled diabetes,” Dr. Katta explained. “Diet,
exercise and managing blood sugar levels are essential to prevent circulatory
problems in the eyes and extremities.”
Diabetes cannot be “cured” once someone has developed the disease,
it can be treated and managed by the patient and his/her physician. “The
key is knowledge and then steady attention to managing the disease,”
Dr. Katta said.
Dr. Katta explained that for those individuals with diabetes, the body
cannot properly convert sugar in food into energy, causing sugar levels
in the blood and urine to rise. The complications of uncontrolled diabetes
can be very serious and can begin very early in the disease’s progress.
Most complications stem from changes in blood vessels and nerves that
affect various parts of the body, including the eyes, kidneys, heart and limbs.
Type 1 diabetes usually develops early in life, in infancy through adolescence.
Type 2 usually develops in older adults. Family history can have a strong
influence on whether a person will develop Type 2. The lifetime risk of
diabetes can be as high as 60 percent when both parents have had diabetes,
and 25 to 30 percent when one parent has had the disease.
Upcoming programs are:
- February 4: Insulin Delivery: “To Pump or Not to Pump” by Dr.
Archana Bindra, an endocrinologist and Medical Co-Director of the Diabetes Center.
- March 3: A field trip: Grocery Shopping with “Diabet-EZ” with
Anna Mazzei, Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator (this
program is limited to 20 participants and registration is required; call
1-800-963-7070 or register at whhs.com).
- April 7: Brown Bag Medication Review with Minh-Thu Dennen, PharmD Director
of Pharmacy Washington Hospital.
- May 5: The History of Diabetes with Vida Reed, RN, Certified Diabetes Educator.
- June 2: Diabetes Roundtable Panel Discussion with Experts in the field
of diabetes, cardiology and nutrition.
For those unable to attend the monthly program, the seminars also are televised
on InHealth, a Washington Hospital Channel (Comcast Channel 78) and online
at www.inhealth.tv.