LANCASTER – Nearly 26 million people in the United States have diabetes, and almost two million new cases are diagnosed each year in adults. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to heart disease, stroke and other serious conditions. To help the community better understand the causes and management of diabetes, Antelope Valley Hospital (AVH) is offering a free health lecture on this topic on Thursday, November 8, 2012 at 6:30 p.m.
Diabetes is an endocrine disorder that results from blood sugar levels remaining above normal in the body. Type 1 diabetes is often diagnosed in children and occurs when the body does not produce insulin, which is a hormone that converts sugar, starches and other food into energy. This type of diabetes only occurs in 5-10% of the diabetes population and is often manageable with treatments such as insulin therapy. Type 2 diabetes, which affects over 90% of the diabetic population, is the result of either the body not producing enough insulin or not processing insulin effectively. Anyone can get Type 2 diabetes, though it is often related to obesity, older age, physical inactivity and a family history of diabetes. If left uncontrolled, this condition can lead to many life-threatening problems.
“Diabetes is a very serious disease that is generally the result of multiple factors,” says Radha Krishnan, M.D., a nephrologist and AVH Medical Director of Quality who will host the lecture. “My goal is to help people understand what causes diabetes and how they can avoid it or lessen the complications associated with the disease.”
“More than 9% of local residents throughout the Antelope Valley are living with diabetes. This health lecture will help our community members gain a better understanding of this disease and empower those affected by it to take control through self-management skills,” said Edward Mirzabegian, AVH Chief Executive Officer.
The free health lecture will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 8, and will be held at the Antelope Valley Outpatient Imaging Building (AVOIC), located at 44105 15th Street West.
The lecture will be held in Conference Room 15 on the 4th floor. To reserve a seat, e-mail communityrelations@avhospital.org or call 661-726-6499. Please leave your name, contact number, and number of guests attending the lecture.
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