Gov. C. L. “Butch” Otter has proclaimed March 27 Diabetes Alert Day in Idaho, thanks in part to the work of Boise State nursing student Cadey Hull.
With approximately 90,000 adult Idahoans diagnosed with diabetes, Hull wanted to get the word out about the disease and the importance of getting checked early. She thought getting one day that could serve as a “wake-up call” to increase awareness about diabetes was something Idaho desperately needed. Hull successfully worked with members of the Diabetes Alliance of Idaho and Garden City Community Clinic to have Gov. Otter sign a proclamation declaring March 27 “Diabetes Alert Day in Idaho.”
“I hope this proclamation provides more awareness among Idahoans regarding their risk of developing type II diabetes” said Hull, a Boise State senior from Bonners Ferry. “It is heartbreaking to see the complications of type II diabetes and know that through diet, exercise, and medication management, it could have been prevented.”
Hull said she hopes Idahoans take the Diabetes Risk Test to find out if they are at risk of developing type II diabetes. Early diagnosis of diabetes is critical to successful treatment and delaying or preventing complications such as heart disease, blindness, kidney disease, stroke, amputation and death.
In honor of Diabetes Alert Day in Idaho, the Garden City Community Clinic hosted a “Living Healthy with Diabetes Day” from 1-6 p.m., Thursday, March 22. This no-cost screening was targeted at low-income adults with no insurance or limited access to preventative health care who are diabetic, believe they might have diabetes, are pre-diabetic, or desire more information regarding diabetes.