NEW YORK: Nearly 200 community members in Richmond Hill, New York attended a Diabetes Screening Event, organized by United Sikhs at The Sikh Cultural Society recently. Participants in the event received screenings to check their height, weight, Body Mass Index, as well as blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels and also received information on diabetes prevention and management from healthcare providers.
Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that at least 171 million have diabetes, and they predict the number to more than double by 2030. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reports that nearly 500,000 – one in every eight adults – is diagnosed with diabetes in the city alone. Very little information exists about the rate of diabetes in the South Asian population and which factors contribute to its onset.
“We have been conducting health fairs and bringing health services to the community for a number of years, and we now see a real need for health education within the community, so we are focusing on programs that fulfill these needs,” said Rucha Kavathe, who coordinates health projects for the organization. “United Sikhs is bringing to the community new programs that focus on educating the community about diabetes management, and link them to services they need to lead healthy lives.”
In addition to receiving screenings at the event, attendees also filled out a survey detailing their knowledge about diabetes and its risks, diet, nutrition, physical activity, and sources of health information. The survey data are an important contribution to a scant body of knowledge on diabetes and its prevalence in the South Asian community. The data was gathered as part of Project RICE (Reaching Immigrants through Community Empowerment), in collaboration with Health Promotion and Prevention Research Center (PRC) at the New York University School of Medicine, supported by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
As part of its growing health initiatives, United Sikhs is conducting Diabetes Education classes for the community in Richmond Hill, NY. This 6 week program focuses on providing tools that will assist in understanding and managing diabetes for people who have or know someone who has diabetes.
India Post News Service
