UNLV takes on American Diabetes Month

They sat in the hot Las Vegas sun for hours on end handing out vibrant red carnation flowers to anyone who could spare some change.

They gave away endless amounts of swag without asking for anything in return.

They offered free lectures to those who wished to listen.

They, the Hormones & Diseases Research & Resource Group at UNLV, did all of this to bring diabetes awareness to the students and faculty of UNLV.

“We need to help young adults avoid high-risk behaviors which could lead to diabetic complications or preventable cases of diabetes and help them become more aware of diabetic symptoms,” said HDDR special events committee chair Stacey Aragon.

“November is American Diabetes Month, a time to communicate the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of proper diabetes control,” said Carly Rohrer, the associate manager for the American Diabetes Association.

This year American Diabetes Month focused on the deadly complications of diabetes and asked the American public, “Why should you care about diabetes?”

Several events have been hosted this month including Rock Against Diabetes, Awareness Week hosted by HDRR along with the Music and Entertainment Industry Student Association of Las Vegas at CSUN. The Kiss Diabetes Goodbye fundraiser was hosted by the ADA and the Nevada Diabetes Association’s A Feast of Healthy Habits.

Rohrer said it is important for college students to know about diabetes because prevention of Type 2 diabetes begins today for everyone.

“Las Vegas is among other fast-growing cities where life goes too quickly to stop for a full meal or do a couple of morning exercises. Health education seems to get lost in the shuffle,” said graduate student and secretary of HDRR Chrisalbeth Guillermo.

According to the American Diabetes Association in Nevada in 2007, about 4 percent of people between the ages of 18-35 had Type 2 Diabetes. The nationwide statistic is 3 percent.

“One reason awareness for diabetes is so important is that the disease is often symptom-less, or nearly so,” said Dr. Daniel Benyshek, professor in the anthropology department and faculty advisor to HDDR. “Largely because of this, about one-quarter of people with diabetes do not even know they have the disorder.”

Diabetes is a chronic disease and has no cure.

It can lead to serious complications and premature death, but people with diabetes can take steps to control the disease and lower the risk of complications.

“The more risk factors you have-overweight, lack of exercise, hereditary disposition-the more likely you are to develop diabetes,” Rohrer said. “The good news is 90 percent of diabetes can be prevented with healthy lifestyle choices.”

Diabetes is a group of diseases marked by high levels of blood glucose resulting from defects in insulin production, insulin action, or both, the ADA Web site states.

Some high-risk behaviors include being over weight compared to your height (Body Mass Index) and having a low physical activity level.

Other risk factors include race or ethnic background, impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose, having a family history of diabetes, high blood pressure or having a history of diabetes during pregnancy.

A few warning signs of Type 2 diabetes are frequent urination, unusual thirst, extreme hunger, blurred vision, cuts and bruises that are slow to heal, tingling or numbness in the hands and feet and extreme fatigue.

It is important to understand that often people with Type 2 diabetes have no symptoms at all.

“The only way to know for sure is to get a simple blood glucose test through your doctor or the Student Health Center,” said Benyshek.

In addition to the bright red flowers, HDRR and MEISA-LV offered a series of lectures for RAD Awareness Week that included The Rebel Wellness Zone, Benyshek, and Chris Moore of ADEMS (The Adult Education and Management Support Group).

“For being a new group on campus, RAD Awareness Week was a hit for HDRR,” said graduate student and co-president of HDRR Heidi Manlove

“We ended up raising $300 for diabetes research that will go towards the international Rock Against Diabetes organization as well as helping local organizations such as ADEMS and the Diabetes Power Show.”

For more information on how to get involved with HDRR, visit their Web site at www.myspace.com/hormonesanddiseasegroup or e-mail them at hdrr@unlv.nevada.edu.

For more information on American diabetes Month, visit the American Diabetes Association Web site at www.diabetes.org or call 1-888-DIABETES (1-888-342-2382). Information from both of these sources are available in English and Spanish.