Coordinator expanding diabetes outreach work

Nicole S. Berry-Garnsey hopes to spread the word about the Community Diabetes Regional Outreach Partnership so more people with diabetes, or who are at risk of getting the disease, learn of its programs and services.

Ms. Berry-Garnsey, the partnership's coalition coordinator, said although the coalition, based at River Hospital, Alexandria Bay, has been around for 15 years, the word about it is just getting out there because she is the first paid person to oversee the coalition's six-county coverage area of Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Herkimer and Oneida counties.

"We've really expanded our outreach to include more partners throughout six counties," she said. "I think there's a lot more work to do."

Many communities within the six counties are rural and are experiencing a certified diabetes educator shortage, Ms. Berry-Garnsey said. Those professionals are needed, she said, because they act as the glue for a diabetic's health-care needs, and they work with all of the doctors who treat diabetes.

The coalition provides support groups, scholarships for diabetics needing care who are under-insured or uninsured and instruction for diabetics on the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

"There are amazing programs that are free and people can learn the standards of care in diabetes management, healthy eating, support groups and diabetes education," Ms. Berry-Garnsey said.

She said it's important for diabetics to know that if their blood sugar levels are high, they can be lowered by increasing physical activity, watching what they eat and taking medication.

"It's really that simple," she said. "If diabetes is in the family, they should eat well, learn foods that are healthier choices, watch portion sizes and control their weight. You can prevent not only diabetes but also heart disease."

For more information about the coalition and its programs, call Ms. Berry-Garnsey at 783-6810 or visit the coalition's Web site.