A class on Living with Diabetes is being sponsored by the Richmond County Cooperative Extension Service to be held from 6 to 8 p.m. March 23 in the conference room at the center at 123 Caroline St., Rockingham.

Clinton McRae, Extension director, said his office was collaborating with Jon Cucura, MS, CDE, a registered dietitian with FirstHealth’s Diabetes Self-Management Program, who will present the class.

Participants need to register for the free class on or before March 20 by calling (800) 364-0499.

A free sugar screening is being held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday at the Richmond County Health Department.

“This class is designed for anyone who is interested in learning tips for preventing and/or managing diabetes,” McRae said.

“It is a great class not only for the person with diabetes but also for people preparing meals for diabetics,” he said. “Also, those attending will learn about helpful community resources dealing with diabetes.”

Concern increasing

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, a hormone needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy.

Studies have shown that decreasing average blood sugar even by one percent can reduce the risk of complications.

McRae said diabetes is of increasing concern in Richmond County because although once known as an “adult onset” medical problem, Type II diabetes is often occurring today in children because of its connection with children being overweight and young people being obese.

“We are trying to raise awareness about diabetes and it complications,” McRae said.

“While diabetes is a manageable condition, many people are suffering to the point of death because of not knowing how to manage it,” he said.

Although diabetes is associated with frequent urination, blurred vision and excessive thirst, McRae said most people diagnosed with Type II diabetes don’t show overt warning signs at the time they develop the condition.

“In addition, Type II diabetes often becomes evident only when people develop one or more of its major complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, eye problems or nerve damage that can lead to amputation,” he said.

Local effort

FirstHealth of the Carolinas is involved with the Richmond County Health Department through the Richmond Free Care Clinic, which received a grant from the N.C. Office of Rural Health to place a certified diabetes educator in a primary care setting.

The effort, known as FirstReach, is an attempt to increase access to patients for intensive diabetes management and also provides some funds to purchase medications for uninsured diabetic patients who are enrolling in medication assistance programs.

FirstHealth has a 20/20 Vision Project working to reach goals through 20/20 Task Force Groups in Richmond, Hoke, Montgomery and Moore counties.

In Richmond County, the task force includes members from the city of Rockingham, Richmond County Schools, Cooperative Extension, FirstHealth Diabetes Self-Management, community members at large, Richmond Community College, Richmond County Health Department and FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital.

The task force focuses on issues related to cancer prevention, obesity and diabetes and works to promote awareness and hold various screening events.

Contributing factors

McRae said the primary contributing factors for diabetes include a family history of diabetes, being overweight and sedentary, and over the age of 45.

Three in five North Carolinians are overweight or obese. One in four is sedentary. One in five is a smoker.

At increased risks are African-Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders. So are women who have had babies weighing more than nine pounds at birth, he said.

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in North Carolina, according to the N.C. Division of Public Health. Among African-Americans, it is fourth.

Nearly one in five North Carolinians has diabetes or is at risk of developing it, the division said. There are 600,000 adults with diabetes, 228,000 who are said to be undiagnosed and 408,000 with pre-diabetes.

At 8.5 percent of the population with diabetes, North Carolina ranks 10th with the highest rate of prevalence of diabetes in the nation.

Cost of diabetes

In 2006, diabetes-related hospitalizations cost $259 million in the state; for heart attacks for diabetics, $972 million; for strokes for diabetics, $145 million; renal problems, $233 million; and amputations among diabetics, $101 million.

In all, with medical care, lost productivity and premature death, costs related to diabetes are listed at $5.3 billion annually in North Carolina.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts that one in three children will develop diabetes in his or her lifetime.

Blood glucose control reduces the risk of long-term complications for people with diabetes. Changes in lifestyle are effective at preventing or delaying the onset of diabetes, McRae said.

FirstHealth operates a Diabetes Helpline 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at (800) 364-0499 for help with non-urgent medical/nutritional questions.

n Contact reporter Tom MacCallum at 997-3111, ext. 15; e-mail tmaccallum@yourdailyjournal.com.