Tuesday, August 22, 2000

Rural area diabetics to get help

When her husband was diagnosed with diabetes, Bea Hanson, executive director of the Food Bank of Corpus Christi, got to thinking about diabetics living in rural communities.
   "Here we were having to learn more about managing diabetes, how to prepare more balanced meals, how to read food labels carefully, that it made me realize what our (food bank) clients must go through," Hanson said.
   Interested in making diabetes education accessible to rural residents, Hanson made a few phone calls and had a promising conversation with Dr. Rebecca Hammond, a physician at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, and Gloria Fernandez-VanZante, a registered dietician, also with the university.
   Hammond and VanZante previously had piloted a diabetes education program at the university campus and based upon their own success, knew that there was great interest on the topic in the region.
   'It was a perfect marriage'
   On Sept. 7, the fruit of those conversations materializes with a free, six-week diabetes management class. "It was a perfect marriage," Hanson said. "The university had the program and we had the outlet, which was the connection to the rural communities."
   The program draws an array of Falfurrias professionals to disseminate the information. The professionals include a Wal-Mart pharmacist, pastor, high school coaches and a Christus Spohn Family Health Clinic representative.
   The program, which consists of one class a week, begins with an overview and glucose testing. Other topics are carbohydrates, proteins and fat, food preparation, exercise, medication and foot care and complications from diabetes.
   'Just the beginning'
   On Nov. 21, participants will return for post-testing, Hanson said, allowing Hammond and VanZante to collect before-and-after data to determine the project's effectiveness. At its conclusion, the program will be turned over to the community.
   "We see this as just the beginning of many wonderful things," said Jerry Barker, pastor of First Baptist Church, where the Falfurrias classes will be held. "Eventually we'd like to see programs addressing child nutrition, better parenting, drug and alcohol rehabilitation and other important needs facing our community."
   For Hanson, the Falfurrias project is also a beginning. Program originators plan to replicate the six-week clinic in other area rural communities.
   And with an increase of children between the ages of 8 and 10 in the area being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, the need to link families with dieticians before, not after, hospitalization is key, VanZante said.
   For more information on the Falfurrias program, call (361) 593-2904.
  
  Sylvia R. Longoria's column appears Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. She can be reached at 886-3718 or by e-mail at longorias@caller.com