Mega Doctor News
With a high number of cases across the United States, diabetes awareness is more important than ever before. A staggering 34.2 million Americans – about 10% of the U.S. population – have diabetes, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with 86 million adults living with prediabetes, a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes.
In the Rio Grande Valley, the incidence of diabetes is higher than in the rest of the nation. From 2012 to 2022, the chronic condition affected 45% of residents in the four-county region, with screening rates exceeding the national average, per the National Center for Biotechnology Information.
While diabetes can be prevented through a healthy diet and exercise, it’s important to know the risk factors and warning signs and symptoms, as well as understand the best practices for daily management of the condition.
To help educate and empower Rio Grande Valley residents to take steps to prevent, delay or manage the condition,South Texas Health System is partnering with Prominence Health to host their annual Prevent, Treat & Beat Diabetes Symposium, a conference and expo for the entire family aimed at helping the community keep their health in check through educational seminars, interactive exercise and cooking demonstrations and no-cost health checks and screenings.
“One of the most important aspects of raising diabetes awareness is providing a support system for those living with or at risk for the life-threatening condition,” says Tom Castaneda, System Director of Marketing and Public Relations, STHS. “This annual symposium is part of the proactive measures STHS and Prominence Health are taking to inform and educate the communities we serve about the dangers of diabetes, as well as the importance ofearly detection of the conditions to help prevent serious health complications.”
Taking place on Saturday, March 29, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the South Texas College Nursing & Allied Health Campus (Bldg. B), located at 1901 S. McColl Rd. in McAllen, the symposium will arm attendees with the tools they will need to prevent, treat and beat diabetes through healthy lifestyle choices, management of risk factors and more.
The free conference is open to the public and will feature a special expo with no cost health checks and screenings, as well as information on resources available locally to help Valley residents fight diabetes.
For more information on the Prevent, Treat & Beat Diabetes Symposium, visit sthseducation.com.
| Who: | South Texas Health System & Prominence Health |
| What: | Prevent, Treat & Beat Diabetes Symposium |
| When: | Saturday, March 299:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
| Where: | Nursing & Allied Health Campus (Building B)South Texas College1901 S. McColl Rd. McAllen, TX. 78503 |
