An event sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation made an effort to raise diabetes awareness in the black community of North Carolina. The Spirit of Healthy Living tour visited Greenville, North Carolina, recently and spent time at the Greenville Community Christian Church. The Church is located at 1104 N. Memorial Drive. Spirit of Healthy Living is a faith-based initiative that seeks to educate black communities about the risks and dangers involved with Type 2 diabetes.
Muriel Cooper is the senior media manager for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. Cooper stated that the event goal, dubbed Wellness and Diabetes Day, was to “partner with churches because we know churches represent a significant influence over their congregations. . . while we start the relationship, we are looking for local communities to continue it.” Spirit of Healthy Living hopes that by connecting to communities through their faith, they can make inroads into helping those communities understand diabetes and the risks it poses.
The Wellness and Diabetes Day was opened with Congressman G.K. Butterfield delivering an opening speech, followed by a variety of educational activities including healthy cooking demonstrations, free health screenings, and activities for children and youth.
“Anyone in their community who is concerned about their health and being healthy and/or preventing illness was welcome to come,” said Cooper. The event was family-friendly, open to the public and free to attend, and Cooper hoped that the event would educate families together about being healthy, hoping that it will “start promoting healthy lifestyles within families.”
The issue of diabetes is especially important among black communities because studies have demonstrated that they are more at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. “We know in the African-American community, it is the fifth leading cause of death,” said Cooper. The event sought to educate the black community about ways to reduce their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and to help those with diabetes keep it under control.
There is a diabetes self-management program offered by the Pitt County Health Department in addition to a support group for diabetics to share their experiences. The Brody School of Medicine, part of East Carolina University, maintains a Diabetes Self-Care Program that aids diabetics in managing the disease. According to Robin High, the nutrition program director of Pitt County Health Department, these support groups function alongside the diabetes education programs so that diabetics receive aid “not just from our diabetes team but also from each other.”
For additional information on diabetes information and assistance, individuals may log on to spiritofhealth.org. Or, if someone would like more information on local diabetes support programs in the Greenville, North Carolina, area, contact Robin High at 902-2388 at the Pitt County Health Department or at 744-3038 to reach the Brody School of Medicine Diabetes Program.