DiabetesSisters and Gene Hicks Hip Hop Fit Host Exercise, Dance Event
DiabetesSisters, a national 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the lives of women living with and at risk of diabetes, joined with Gene Hicks Hip Hop Fit in Woodridge, IL, to host its first Minority Initiative event this year for women of color on Friday, January 11.
CHICAGO, Jan. 16, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- DiabetesSisters, a national 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the lives of women living with and at risk of diabetes, joined with Gene Hicks Hip Hop Fit in Woodridge, IL, to host its first event of 2019: "New Year, New You". Held on Friday, January 11, the event was part of the DiabetesSisters Minority Initiative, intended to offer women of color with any type of diabetes or prediabetes a welcoming, fun space to learn and work out together; culturally appropriate, practical diabetes education; and increased levels of support, health, and well-being.
Participants listened to guest speakers Samantha Doty, RD, LDN, CDE, CCP and Amanda Przybyla, RDN, LDN, CCP, from Livongo, speak about the value of physical activity and its relationship to blood sugar management. The group of more than 50 participants then enjoyed an exercise dance session. The first 25 attendees to arrive received door prizes and one lucky participant won a FitBit Versa.
Women who are African American or Hispanic/Latina bear an increased burden from and risk of diabetes. Diabetes is 33% more common among African Americans than Caucasians; affects 1 in 4 women age 55 and older; and is the fourth leading cause of death at all ages. For every age group, diabetes is more prevalent in African American women than African American men. Hispanics/Latinas are about 50% more likely to die from diabetes complications than their white counterparts, and have a similar number of deaths from kidney disease.
One in three Hispanics in the US is living with prediabetes, a condition where a person's level of blood sugar is higher than a person without diabetes but does not yet meet the level of diagnosis for diabetes. Without intervention a person with prediabetes is likely to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within the next 10 years. Latinas living with diabetes are more likely to experience depression, eye disease, kidney disease, and nerve disease than those who do not have diabetes.
"DiabetesSisters continues to achieve its goal of reaching women from all walks of life, leading them to better live with diabetes," said Anna Norton, MS, CEO of DiabetesSisters. "Partnering with Hip Hop Fit with Gene Hicks brought more women together in a safe, welcoming environment to discuss the value of exercise with diabetes. We are proud to expand this program to the Chicago area."
Launched in 2016, the organization hosts minority outreach programs in Miami, FL; Greater Washington, DC; Central New Jersey; and in 2019, expanded to Chicago, IL and New York, NY.
DiabetesSisters recognizes and appreciates the support of AstraZeneca, Janssen, Livongo, Novo Nordisk, and the Boehringer Ingelheim-Lilly Alliance as sponsors of Minority Initiative programs.
About DiabetesSisters
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, DiabetesSisters is the only organization nationwide focusing exclusively on women living with diabetes. Our mission is to improve the health and quality of life of women living with and at risk of developing diabetes and to advocate on their behalf. DiabetesSisters has a 25,000-member peer network that unites women with diabetes for the purpose of support, education, and advocacy. For more information, visit http://diabetessisters.org.
SOURCE DiabetesSisters
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