News

November 8, 2019

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month

Dorchester, MA- November is National Diabetes Awareness month and November 14th is World Diabetes Day, a time to bring attention to diabetes and its impact on our families, friends, patients and community.

“Diabetes is a chronic, metabolic disease characterize by elevated levels of blood glucose (blood sugar), which leads over time to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves.” (WHO, int. 2018)

There are approximately 425 million people in the world with diabetes (WHO, int. 2018). According to the CDC in 2017, 30.3 million adults have diabetes in the U.S. and 1 in 4 of them don’t even know they have it. An alarming 84.1 million adults are pre-diabetic and 90% don’t know it.

“As a certified diabetes educator, my goal is to be a support and resource to anyone who is a diabetic or prediabetic to help and teach them how to manage diabetes and live healthy lives” said Carney Hospital’s Diabetic Nurse, Sheicia Paul, RN BSN CDE.

Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the U.S. and the #1 cause of kidney failure, lower limb amputations and adult blindness (CDC, 2017). Having diabetes puts you more at risk for developing heart disease and stroke according to NIH in 2019.

So, what can you do? You can start by being proactive and get screened for diabetes when we have routine visits with our Primary Care Provider, stay active, at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity weekly, eat healthy and reduce stress.  If you are diabetic or pre-diabetic, know that there are many resources you can use to help you manage this chronic condition.

To schedule an appointment with Sheicia Paul, RN BSN CDE at Carney Hospital’s Endocrinology and Diabetes Center, please call 617-506-4360.

About Carney Hospital

Since 1863, Carney Hospital has served the City of Boston and neighboring communities. Carney Hospital has received the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for health care quality and safety and numerous other quality and safety awards, including being designated a Top Hospital for 2014, 2015 and 2017 by the Leapfrog Group. The 159-bed hospital has more than 400 physicians and delivers quality care to approximately 140,000 patients annually. Carney Hospital provides Dorchester and surrounding communities with convenient, local access to quality primary care, emergency medicine and a range of specialties and subspecialties including; critical care, family medicine, cardiology, neurology, orthopedics, ambulatory care and adolescent, adult and geriatric psychiatry. Carney Hospital is part of the Steward Health Care Network. To learn more, please visit www.carneyhospital.org.

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