(SALINAS, Calif., Nov. 1, 2023) — Natividad is celebrating World Diabetes Day on Tuesday, November 14, and the public is invited to the hospital’s free education fair from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 pm in the main lobby.

Medical experts and specialists will be on hand during the fair to help attendees become more aware of their risk, how to prevent diabetes and what to know about family and loved ones who have diabetes.

At noon, Diabetes Educator Lupe Bravo, RN, Natividad Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, and others will discuss diabetes, including risks and how to prevent the disease. Bravo oversees Natividad’s Diabetes Education Center, which offers outpatient services to children and adults with Type 1, Type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, and prediabetes. A registered nurse, a certified diabetes education specialist and a registered dietitian nutritionist provide services. Services are available in English, Spanish and other languages. 

“We know that one in five people with diabetes do not even know they have the disease, and that can be dangerous,” said Bravo. “In addition, Latinos are more at risk, with 70% more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to be diagnosed.

Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to various health issues, such as heart disease and strokes, kidney failure, vision loss, foot damage, skin conditions, teeth and gum diseases, digestive issues, sexual dysfunction, hearing impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. 

“Those with diabetes need to make choices and take action every day to manage their blood sugar levels,” Bravo said. “The most important things are eating healthy foods, being physically active most days of the week (we usually recommend five times a week), taking medicine if needed, and getting regular checkups. Usually, people with diabetes should see their doctor every three months, or every six to 12 months for people with prediabetes.”

Activities and booths at the November 14 event include:

• Learn your risk for Type 2 diabetes and find out how to prevent the disease with Lupe Bravo, RN
• Foot care and how to perform self-exams with Dr. Rangel Ventura and Dr. Millward
• Raffle prizes and free healthy snacks with the Natividad outreach team Melissa Raya Contreras and Alma Mandujano, sponsored by Natividad Foundation
• How to keep your heart healthy with Natividad Cardiology Services 
• Healthy eating, food portions and using measuring cups with Natividad Dietary Services
• Patient care and managing diabetes with Vangie Silao, RN
• How to live longer, better with Blue Zones Project® with a focus on healthy drink choices, healthy recipes and raffle basket with Maribel Roque and MacKenzie Fisher
• Healthier living and tobacco cessation with the Monterey County Health Department

Resources

Diabetes is a condition that is challenging for anyone to manage, but those within the Hispanic/Latino community may face additional barriers, including: 

• Communication: If you speak another language and can’t communicate fully with your doctors or they don’t understand your values and preferences, you’re less likely to follow treatment instructions and make lifestyle changes. 
• Food: In some Latino cultures, meals can be high in fat and involve more fried foods and calories. Also, family celebrations may involve social pressure to overindulge. It is not often polite to say no or drink water instead of soda. Many people feel they must eat what is there. 
• Weight/activity: Hispanics/Latinos have higher rates of obesity and tend to be less physically active than non-Hispanic whites. Being overweight can bring on other health problems, including hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes. Our center focuses on showing our community how to make lifestyle changes for the long term.

For more information about diabetes in Monterey County, please view our video from February 2022 at https://youtu.be/sE_SJm03sJ4 or https://youtu.be/xVIzlvi5ThY in Spanish.

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About Natividad

Natividad is a hospital and trauma center providing compassionate, high-quality health care to everyone, regardless of ability to pay or immigration status. Located in Salinas, California, Natividad is a public health care system offering a wide range of inpatient, outpatient, emergency, diagnostic and specialty medical care for adults and children. Founded in 1886, the 172-bed medical center has more than 11,000 admissions and nearly 60,000 emergency visits annually. Home to the area’s only Level II Trauma Center, the hospital’s specialized personnel, equipment and services provide a vital local community service that saves lives and keeps patients close to home. Natividad’s Baby-Friendly® facility delivers nearly 2,300 babies every year and is affiliated with UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals. It also operates an accredited Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, giving the tiniest and most fragile babies the best chance for a healthy start. One of UCSF’s original affiliate residencies, Natividad is the only teaching hospital in Monterey County. Please call (831) 755-4111 for more information or visit www.natividad.com.