We answered dozens of questions, as well as chatting online on Tuesday evening. Our panel:
Dr. Ruth Weinstock, director, Joslin Diabetes Center
Dr. Marybeth McCall, chief medical officer, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield
Sylvia Hough, area director, American Diabetes Association
Dr. Kristen Graves, in practice at Syracuse Community Health Center
Susan Rioux, RN, certified Diabetes Nurse Educator at Crouse Hospital
Some sobering statistics:
- One in ten adults in upstate New York has been diagnosed with diabetes.
- 9.3% of Central New York's adult population has diabetes.
- One in Five health care dollars is spent on diabetic related expenses.
Some resources:
Free health screenings for under or uninsured will be at Syracuse's Oncenter on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Syracuse Community Health Center will also see new patients: 476-7921
Excellus Blue CrossBlue Shield has more background on diabetes at www.excellusbcbs.com click on 'health policy & research'
Joslin Diabetes Center can be reached at 464-5726. For info on area research being done on diabetes, you can call 464-9007
You can go to www.diabetes.org for more information on dealing with the disease.
The Tour de Cure , a bike ride around Oneida Lake to promote healthy lifestyle, is June 6th at Verona Beach State Park.
