The Ohio State Library for Health Information is making students, staff, faculty and the general public more aware of diabetes in recognition of November’s American Diabetes Month.
The library will have pamphlets, handouts, dietary guidelines and other resources on diabetes, which are available either for free or check out.
“Anyone should go to see the display, especially because there is a very high risk in central Ohio,” said Diane Moyer, program manager for consumer health education and a registered nurse.
Abigail Jones, the consumer health librarian, said the library chooses different health observances every month based on a calendar from the National Health Information Center. Jones said she chose to promote American Diabetes Month because the disease is becoming more common.
“Diabetes is an extremely important thing to make aware of because it’s happening to a lot of people,” she said.
Martha Belury, professor of human nutrition, said diabetes should be an important issue to everyone.
“Our society will be paying for this disease because it’s an epidemic,” she said.
The American Diabetes Association estimates 6.2 percent of Americans have diabetes. Belury said many others have the disease without knowing it.
“Often people have it for seven years before they are diagnosed,” she said.
The number of college-age students with diabetes is increasing because obesity in this age group is increasing, Belury said.
Diabetes comes in two forms. The first, which is called type 1 diabetes, is caused by the body’s inability to make insulin. It also can be caused by the body’s inability to properly use insulin, which is called type 2 diabetes. The disease causes a high level of glucose, or blood sugar in the body, which is not noticed by the patient.
“High blood sugar doesn’t make you feel bad,” Moyer said.
While there are differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, Belury said they cause the same side effects, including heart disease, blindness and kidney disease.
“The side effects are devastating,” Belury said.
A diabetes patient must balance their blood sugar to keep it at a low level. Insulin shots combined with daily activities will help keep glucose at a normal level.
“The best strategy is to establish a regular pattern of eating, sleeping and exercising,” Belury said.
The Library for Health Information is located on the fifth floor atrium in Rhodes Hall. Resources will be displayed inside and outside the library. Jones said anyone who can not come in during regular hours can call or e-mail to request information.
Moyer said the Department of Endocrinology holds health education classes on diabetes for additional support and information.
