By Amad Ali/reporter
Diabetes, the No. 5 killer in the United States, primarily targets people of color and children, a speaker from the Diabetes Empowerment Education Program told NE students and faculty Oct. 18.
Toya Norton, a John Peter Smith Hospital Community Diabetes Case Management member, has been spreading diabetes awareness through DEEP for more than a year. During the presentation, she explained the basics of diabetes and covered its symptoms, types and treatment.
“Your body is a wonderful machine. It knows what to do for you,” Norton said as she explained ways in which one can control diabetes.
People should check for symptoms of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, Norton said, and she passed out several handouts describing both.
Hyperglycemia can be caused by too much food, too little insulin or illness and stress. Symptoms include blurred vision, extreme thirst, drowsiness and dry skin. Hypoglycemia, on the other hand, is caused by too little food, too much insulin or extra activity, Norton said. Symptoms include a fast heartbeat, dizziness, anxiety and headaches.
While there is no way to get rid of diabetes, it can be controlled, Norton said.
Self-management, in which a person takes control of his or her own condition is extremely important, she said. Diabetics need to set goals, stay positive and organized.
“Don’t set an unrealistic goal for yourself. You can do anything you put your mind to. Be positive,” she said.
Norton advised diabetics to get ample rest, exercise, eat well and keep all their doctor appointments.
“It’s very important to get your physicals,” she said.
While Norton is not a diabetic herself, she said she has been interested in the topic for a long time.
“I did it to save lives,” she said.
Susannah Keneda, a NE fashion instructor, said she attended the lecture as self-improvement and wanted to prevent getting diabetes.
The program was “good basic info that anyone can use,” she said.
NE student Everlean Scott attended as a class requirement.
“I’ve been a diabetic for 11 years. It affects me mentally,” she said.
Scott said that even though she’s had diabetes for many years, she still learned from the lecture.
