The Regional Diabetes Collaborative Convened Its Eighth Annual Diabetes Forum

“Skills and Best Practices in an Integrated Family Approach to Childhood Obesity and Diabetes Prevention” was the topic of discussion for more than 80 physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals of Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties at the Eighth Annual Diabetes Forum, hosted by the Regional Diabetes Collaborative and the Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust on Friday, March 4th from 8:15 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the Health Trust, 85 Nielson Street, Watsonville. 

Stakeholders at this full-day meeting convened at the invitation of the Health Trust and the Regional Diabetes Collaborative (RDC) to hear from national experts on the medical and public health consequences of childhood obesity; to discuss strategies that can increase motivation for healthy behavior change; and learn how the social determinants of health can impact our health more than whether or not we see a doctor.

The Keynote speaker was David Ludwig, MD, Ph.D, a practicing pediatrician and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School as well as Associate Professor of Nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health.  Dr. Ludwig is Founding Director of the Optimal Weight for Life (OWL) Program at Children’s Hospital in Boston and author of a book on childhood obesity for parents entitled Ending the Food Fight: Guide Your Child to a Healthy Weight in a Fast Food/Fake Food World (Houghton Mifflin, 2007).

Dr. Ludwig’s presentation focused on good nutrition for children and what parents can do to support their families with positive management of food and other lifestyle choices. Complementing Dr. Ludwig’s presentation was a workshop lead by Michele Packard, Ph.D., of Sage Consulting, a national continuing education company in Denver specializing in evidenced-based training. Dr. Packard presented motivational interviewing techniques  for medical professionals to use in helping their patients, especially those with chronic conditions, modify their behavior to make healthier choices.

Finally, Leslie Goodfriend, MPH, Senior Health Services Manager at the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency (HSA), presented data to demonstrate that where we live in Santa Cruz County has a greater impact on our health status than genetics or access to a doctor. Ms. Goodfriend is a participant in the Santa Cruz County Health Equities Group, a collaborative founded two years ago to study contributing factors to poor health equity in our county.  Her presentation, entitled Place Matters in Santa Cruz County revealed that all Santa Cruz County residents do not have the same opportunities to make healthy choices for a variety or reasons. To address this inequity, she encouraged forum participants to help build stronger local neighborhood groups; to engage local residents and build their skills; and to educate and influence decision makers.

For more information about this event, contact Raquel Ramírez Ruiz, Regional Diabetes Collaborative (RDC) staff at (831)763-6456.

The RDC is a membership organization of three dozen public and private entities from Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties. This Tri-County collaborative was convened by the Health Trust in 2002 to combat the incidence of diabetes in our region, which is one of the highest in the State:  seven percent of Tri-County residents (55,000 people) now have Type 2 diabetes.  Since 1990, the number has grown by a third.  Public Health officials project a doubling before 2020.

Beyond the physical impact on patients, the cost of diabetes is staggering.  The national cost of diabetes and its complications exceeds $130 billion a year, and that’s rising at least 10% a year. For the Tri-County area it’s close to a half billion.

About the Regional Diabetes Collaborative (RDC)

The RDC is administered by the Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust that, since 2002, has united some 35 member-organizations to prevent and manage diabetes in Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey Counties. The RDC’s activities include creating partnerships with private, public, governmental and community-based organizations to prevent diabetes in the region; increasing public awareness and diabetes education; promoting best practices in clinical management; and improving the availability, accessibility, and affordability of treatment services, medicines, and equipment for diabetes patients.