'It Takes a Village' at the second annual Diabetes Awareness Day

Above: Line dancing was a popular feature of the second annual Diabetes Awareness Day at Central State University-Dayton.

Central State University Extension recently hosted its second annual Diabetes Awareness Day at Central State University-Dayton. The event, whose theme was "It Takes a Village," aimed to raise awareness about diabetes and promote wellness within the community through various engaging activities.

Dr. Jose Toledo, vice president for Research and Development and director of Central State University 1890 Land-Grant Programs, inaugurated the event with the grand opening of the Community Health Care Worker Program at CSU-Dayton. He left the audience with these remarks: 

"If you don't take care of yourself, nobody will. We need to take care of ourselves and our bodies."

The day featured free health screenings, including foot checks by Dr. Tanisha Richmond of Richmond Foot and Ankle Clinic and a discussion on diabetes awareness and management with pharmacist Nnodum Iheme, owner of Ziks Pharmacy, Dayton. Participants benefited from the individualized care and foot checks.

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Educational sessions included diabetes wellness talks on the importance of taking medication on time, diabetes awareness management and life after a kidney transplant. Speakers included Jackie Anderson, Nnodum Iheme and Dr. Morris Brown.

Food demonstrations led by Juliana Wickline, Southwest Region Extension educator of Family and Consumer Science, featured the preparation of healthy snacks such as air-fried chickpeas, salad in a jar and other simple meals, emphasizing the role of nutrition in diabetes management.

Organizers invited attendees to participate in an upbeat line dancing session. The session was a standout, as the group danced to everything from Beyonce to Marvin Gaye, blending fun and fitness seamlessly.

Renita Porter, statewide program leader for Family and Consumer Sciences, concluded, "Diabetes Awareness Day is one of CSU Extension's signature programs that draws many community members from all walks of life. This is their health, and we're here to help them take it back through practical steps of application and knowledge."

Porter noted that the program's success lies in engaging the community and spreading awareness about diabetes and overall wellness.

James Keys, interim program Extension associate, Family and Consumer Sciences Southern Region, added, "This day not only signifies the reach this event has had on the community for two years. It shows that exercise, a proper diet and a proper routine are all you need. And it's easy too."

For more information on upcoming programs, contact Renita Porter at rporter@centralstate.edu.

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Central State University diabetes research

Though "It Takes A Village" is a signature program of Central State University Extension, Central State University digs deeper into understanding and preventing diabetes through its multi-pronged research approach. Two research professors focusing on diabetes are Dr. Pratibha Gupta, research associate professor of Food Nutrition and Health, and Dr. Kazi Islam, associate professor of Health.

Dr. Gupta's research focuses on obesity, cardiovascular diseases, health, diet and nutrigenomics, which is defined as the interaction between nutrition and an individual's genetic pattern.

Realizing that "Diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide," Dr. Islam's research focuses on investigating the mechanisms of how nitrate (NO3-) chemical via conversion to nitric oxide (NO) benefits both diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.