Initiatives, Efforts Offer Spanish Diabetes Medication Comparative Guide, Promote Wellness Among American Indians, Address Health Awareness

Main Category: Diabetes
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 23 Jun 2008 - 9:00 PDT

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The following summarizes efforts, events and initiatives related to minority health.

• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: AHRQ has released a Spanish version of the guide "Pills for Type 2 Diabetes," which gives comparative analysis of oral type 2 diabetes medications. The guide uses information from a recent AHRQ report, "Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Oral Diabetes Medications for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes," to compare 10 generic and 13 brand-name diabetes medications. It details how each works at lowering blood sugar levels, which cause weight gain and other side effects, and each pill's potential effect on "bad" and "good" cholesterol. The guide also includes a warning signs for hypoglycemia (AHRQ release, 6/18).
  
  
• Bar Harbor, Maine: Three teenagers from the Tohono O'odham Nation, based in Sells, Ariz., on Tuesday began a yearlong walk from Maine to their home in an effort to promote wellness, the Ellsworth American reports. The group is being led by Terrol Dew Johnson, co-founder of Tohona O'odham Community Action, a not-for-profit group that promotes traditional foods and cultural activities as a solution to addressing the high rates of type 2 diabetes among American Indians. The group plans to walk up to 25 miles daily, camping at night. Johnson said he hopes the walk will inspire others to lead healthy lives (Weaver, Ellsworth American, 6/18).
  
  
• Orlando, Fla.: The 100 Black Men of America conference last week focused on health issues that affect the black community and ways to improve the group's health, the Orlando Sentinel reports. The conference, which ran from June 11 to June 15, included no-cost health screenings, a town hall meeting on health topics and a cooking contest that featured healthy food options (Zequeria, Orlando Sentinel, 6/15).
  
  
• Vallejo, Calif.: The 20th annual Juneteenth celebration in Solano County on Saturday aims to promote weightloss and improve health among blacks, the Vallejo Times-Herald reports. Juneteenth commemorates the day when the last slaves were freed in Texas. This year's theme is "Living the Legacy: Promoting a New Generation of Leaders Through Health, Education and Community Service." No-cost health screenings and diagnostic tests will be offered, and Ian Smith -- who recently launched the "50 Million Pound Challenge," which encourages blacks to lose weight and address related health issues -- will deliver a speech (Vallejo Times-Herald, 6/17).
  

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