May 2020 Newsletter
What's Happening in Appalachia?
Johnson County Health Department
National Diabetes Prevention Program
Goes Virtual During Pandemic
The Johnson County Health Department (JCHD) in KY paused all face to face delivery of the National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lifestyle Coach Mary Beth Castle explored options to continue the weekly meetings. Since her participants found technology a bit challenging, she thought she would need to postpone the classes indefinitely, maybe calling them once a week to check on them.

Good news! Mary Beth joined Marshall University’s “Virtual Office Hours” when the topic was “Using the Zoom Platform for Meetings”. That week the participants got to see how the platform works, ask questions on how to set it up, and hear others’ TA questions and tips.  Armed with new-found confidence, as well as a participant’s grandson who could help his 81-year old grandmother use Zoom, she has continued the classes!! And the participants are having a great time! Mary Beth sends the participants self-addressed stamped envelopes to mail their weights and activity logs back to her.

Congratulations for completing two Zoom meetings in the month of April, and for continuing to support your participants during this challenging time. Mary Beth agrees with the old sayings: “Where there’s a will, there’s a way” and “You CAN teach an old dog new tricks”. JCHD’s DPP lifestyle coach and participants “ had the will and they made the way .”  
Having a Diabetes Emergency Checklist can Help you be more Prepared for Disasters
Are you Prepared?
People living with diabetes are at higher risk for serious complications related to COVID-19, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC is recommending that people with diabetes, as well as other vulnerable populations, take extra precautions to reduce their risk. Diabetes Emergency Kit: The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists has developed a diabetes Emergency Kit checklist to help you better prepare for emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
May is National Stroke Awareness Month!
People with diabetes and prediabetes are at increased risk for stroke. Taking steps like exercising every day, not smoking, limiting alcohol, eating a healthier diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and learning to manage your stress can have a significant impact on possibly preventing a future stroke.
Do You Know Diabetes By Heart?
The American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association, along with industry leaders, have proudly launched the groundbreaking collaborative initiative Know Diabetes by Heart™ to reduce cardiovascular deaths, heart attacks and strokes in people living with type 2 diabetes. Sign up for free and have access to free resources and tools like recipes, meal plans, tips, and tools to help individuals living with Type 2 Diabetes reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease.
Diabetes and COVID - 19 Resources
Older people and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as diabetes, heart disease and asthma) appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the COVID-19 virus. When people with diabetes develop a viral infection, it can be harder to treat due to fluctuations in blood glucose levels and, possibly, the presence of diabetes complications. .
How can we help you?
Shelia Plogger
splogger@marshall.edu
Regina Knox
knoxr@marshall.edu
Nell Stuart
slover@marshall.edu
Katherine Mickens
katmick1978@yahoo.com
Kevin Simpson
simpson13@marshall.edu
As a member of the Appalachian Diabetes Network, your coalition can request technical assistance and leader training to build your coalition's capacity to implement programs, activities, and events that reduce the prevalence of diabetes. Contact us to discuss customized technical assistance that meets your coalition's needs. We are here to help you succeed!
From the Director's Desk
For the past two decades, Dr. Richard Crespo has served as the Program Director for the Appalachian Diabetes Control and Translation Project (ADCTP) at Marshall University . The ADCTP is a network of over 70 coalitions from across Appalachia, who are working to reduce the diabetes epidemic.
This project helps community coalitions organize around the problem of diabetes, including planning, implementing and evaluating their specific projects. Diabetes coalitions receive ongoing training and technical assistance to implement evidence-based programs that increase physical activity options, improve access to nutrition education programs, reduce food insecurities, and increase access to diabetes self-management education programs and diabetes prevention programs. Coalitions learn how to identify barriers that exist in their communities and develop realistic strategies that will meet the unique needs of their communities.
This project is a federal, state, and community partnership involving the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and a team at the Robert C. Byrd Center for Rural Health at Marshall University that provides direct technical assistance and training for the coalitions.