New Diabetes Institute Unveiled
November is Diabetes Awareness Month and UF Health recently announced the new UF Diabetes Institute, which is the latest system-wide effort toward a collaborative approach toward the research and treatment of diabetes.
“The naming of the UF Diabetes Institute is symbolic for our desire to be the preeminent institution or hub for diabetes research, patient care and innovation at the state level,” said Les Jebson, M.H.A., FACHE, FACMPE, LHRM, UF Diabetes Institute administrator.
More than 29 million Americans suffer from diabetes, and it is among the top 10 leading causes of death in the U.S. The group of diseases, marked by high levels of blood glucose resulting from problems in how insulin is produced or how insulin works, mostly affects people between the ages of 45 and 64, according to the CDC’s 2014 National Diabetes Report.
To raise awareness during November, the UF Diabetes Institute team will host several events — patient screenings in a variety of locations (including the UF Health Shands Hospital Atrium), an A1C Champions public speaker series on how to manage diabetes, and a blue wristband giveaway, good for markdowns at local businesses.
To learn more about Diabetes Awareness Month activities, visit diabetes.ufl.edu.