The purpose of this federally-funded collaborative effort of the UH Cooperative Extension Service and the Joslin Diabetes Center, along with Cooperative Extension in Washington, New Mexico, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, is to develop and implement a diabetes awareness education program for underserved populations. This project aims to increase people's awareness of diabetes and key indicators of risk factors of complications from diabetes. In Hawaii, this project has been conducted on Oahu, Maui, Molokai and Kauai, with current outreach on the Big Island of Hawaii.

In collaboration with local agencies and community-based programs, the project is reaching adults with diabetes who have limited access to health care and diabetes education. At a two-hour session, project participants are screened for four of the five recommended medical tests (through fingerstick blood and urine samples) and then participate in an educational session, "On the Road to Living Well with Diabetes," to learn about these tests. An evaluation interview with each participant after three months measures changes in diabetes knowledge and self-care behavior.

This project also offers free A1c screening at community sites to identify those at risk for diabetes. On average, a person diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes has had diabetes for several years. To avoid or delay complications of diabetes, it's important to find out early if you have diabetes or pre-diabetes with indicators of diabetes such as high blood sugar.

For more information about this project, contact the project coordinator, Julia Zee, County Extension Educator, at zee@hawaii.edu or at the UH Cooperative Extension Service, 875 Komohana St., Hilo, HI, 96720, Ph. (808) 981-5199.

Links to diabetes programs:

Hawaii State DOH - Diabetes Control Program
The HSDCP is a federally funded program involved in diabetes surveillance in Hawaii and education in the disease.

American Diabetes Association
ADA is the nation's leading nonprofit health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy.

CDC's Diabetes and Public Health Resource
More information on diabetes from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

DOH Hawaii Health and Vital Statistics: Diabetes Conditions
See statistics on diabetes reports by island.

Joslin Diabetes Center Home Page
The Joslin Diabetes Center is an affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Their website offers the latest in diabetes news and research information.

National Diabetes Information Clearing House
NDIC is an information dissemination service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

WVU-ES Dining with Diabetes
West Virginia University's Extension Service offers a diabetes curriculum "Dining with Diabetes."

WSU - Extension
Washington State University Extension features their diabetes curriculum and education materials.

Hawaiian Food Exchange Booklet
This booklet provides nutrient content and exchanges of local ethnic foods as well as some of the fast foods commonly consumed here in Hawaii.

National Diabetes Education Program
NDEP is a partnership of the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and over 200 public and private organizations, providing information and resources on diabetes.

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