Pulaski Health Center Diabetes Health Fair To Feature Speakers, Screenings And Educational Information

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PULASKI, NY – According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention one in three children born in the United States in the last six years are expected to become diabetic in their lifetimes.

Diabetes has no cure.

It is a progressive, and sometimes fatal, disease that forces patients to live with a multitude of complications that can affect many major organs.

This leaves patients to find ways to live with the disease by monitoring diet, activity and blood sugar levels among other concerns.

The Pulaski Health Center is sponsoring a Diabetes Health Fair on Nov. 8 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Pulaski Junior/Senior High School to provide educational information and services to the growing number of community members affected by the disease.

Entrance to the fair is free and open to the public.

Diabetes is a disease in which the body is unable to properly use and store sugar (or glucose).

Glucose builds up in the bloodstream and causes blood “sugar” to rise too high.

There are two major types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes is characterized by the shutdown of the production of insulin, a hormone that enables the body to use glucose found in foods for energy.

Individuals with this type of diabetes must take daily insulin injections to survive.

This form of diabetes usually develops in children or young adults, but can occur at any age.

The body produces insulin with Type 2 Diabetes but not enough to properly convert food into energy.

This form of diabetes once occurred mainly in people over the age of 40, who were overweight and had a family history of diabetes.

With the rising weights and expanding waistbands of Americans both young and old, Type II Diabetes has been growing at the same time the age of those diagnosed with the disease has been decreasing.

“Diabetes is on the rise and is being diagnosed in younger and younger patients,” said Jennifer McGrew, RN and PHC quality improvement coordinator. “This event will provide education, screenings and other important information to those who have been diagnosed with Diabetes, those who have a loved one with the disease and those who are at risk of becoming diabetic.”

P&C Registered Dietitian Melissa Entaman will provide lunch at the event that will feature various speakers (physicians and specialists), on-site glucose testing and other informational vendors. A flu/pneumonia vaccine and Oswego Hospital lipid screening will also be available for a minimal cost.

The event is being sponsored by the PHC.

In northern Oswego County, the center has established a program called the Chronic Care Collaborative Group.

This collaborative integrates various medical treatments and tailors them to individual patients.

It also provides for individualized tracking of a patients progress throughout treatment.

Diabetes is one of the chronic diseases under this federally funded plan.

McGrew and PHC Medical Director Dr. Patrick Carguello have worked to make the collaborative a large part of treatment at the center.

“The process of bringing this collaborative program up to speed has involved every part of our health center,” said Dr. Carguello. “We’ve learned a new care model for chronic diseases such as diabetes and this will mean better care and new preventative initiatives for the community. This fair will incorporate parts of this collaborative and give the community an opportunity to learn more about services available in the region.”

For additional information on the Diabetes Health Fair contact  McGrew at
298-6564, extension 240.

Located at 61 Delano St., Pulaski, the Pulaski Health Center is a family-oriented health care practice that provides Northern Oswego and Southern Jefferson County residents with a variety of comprehensive health care and related services.

The center is accredited through the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

Incorporated in 1969 as Northern Oswego County Health Services, Inc., the facility operates as Pulaski Health Center and is governed by a volunteer board of directors from area communities.

School Based Health Centers are offered through Pulaski Health Center and provide primary health care to program enrolled students in grades Pre-K through 12 at the Pulaski and Sandy Creek school districts, as well as its newest location at APW High School.

For additional information on the services provided through Pulaski Health Center, call (315) 298-6564. missing or outdated ad config

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