Helene Velazquez And The American Diabetes Association Take The Lead When It Comes To Addressing The Silent Epidemic
By Charles Fisher and Randy Fisher @HHSYC
The United States spends an estimated $1.3 billion a year on healthcare, more than any 
other country. Yet despite of all of our technology we rank lower in life expectancy than 16 developed nations. New York City neighborhoods that report lower physical activity levels and less fruit and vegetable consumption have higher obesity rates. Much of the physical activity and nutrition programs work to improve health target those communities most affected by health disparities. According to NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley there has been a rise of 33% in the number of adults in the city with Type 2 diabetes from 2002 to 2012 and it’s totally being driven by the obesity epidemic. Those people have a growing risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, nerve damage and amputations.
Diabetes is far more common in people who are minorities, and we have more minority populations in New York City than the U.S. as a whole. African Americans, Hispanics and Asians are about twice as likely to have diabetes as Whites. Now that Obama-Care is official citizens without healthcare can take a proactive approach to prevent and properly treat the disease that is at epidemic proportions. Over the last year the Hip-Hop Summit Youth Council and their Hip-Hop 4 Better Health Program has been working with the NYC American Diabetes Association (ADA) to further enlighten the general public with a focus on students and what they can do to deter and detect diabetes.
Famous actor and comedian Tracy Morgan was diagnosed with diabetes in 1996 but says he never took it seriously, refusing to take medication or change his diet. After running a 104-degree Fahrenheit fever on the set of 30 Rock, Morgan decided to finally comply with his doctor’s orders. He is now very cautious when it comes to the condition. In early December 2010, Morgan received a kidney transplant, saving him from a lifetime of dialysis.
Below is the interview with Helene Valazquez, Associate Director of Mission Delivery – Latino Issues for the Greater NY Chapter of the ADA who continues to do an outstanding job to fight and educate citizens about diabetes. We applaud her commitment and work ethnic to get the job done to help save lives.
Helene Velazquez, Associate Director of Mission Delivery – Latino Issues, Greater NY Chapter, American Diabetes Association
Question: Where were you born and now reside?
I was born and raised in East Harlem, Manhattan, New York City.
Question: Tell me about the history, purpose and goals of the ADA.
Founded in 1940, the American Diabetes Association’s mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. In 2009, the Association launched a movement to Stop Diabetes®. The movement will inspire and mobilize millions to take up the fight against this deadly disease. The Association has been funding innovative research to combat diabetes since 1955. In 2010, we funded more than $34 million in research at 125 leading research institutions throughout the country.
We lead the fight against the deadly consequences of diabetes and fight for those affected by diabetes.
- We fund research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes.
- We deliver services to hundreds of communities.
- We provide objective and credible information.
- We give a voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes.
Question: What is your title and responsibilities?
As the Associate Director of Mission Delivery of Latino Initiatives I am responsible for diabetes education and outreach efforts in various communities throughout NYC. I have a major role in developing and implementing successful measures of our Por Tu Familia (For Your Family) program in the Latino/Hispanic Community.
I recruit and train healthcare and lay volunteers in an effort to build and develop engaged volunteer committees who support and drive our programming. Further, I manage and coordinate several of the Por Tu Familia educational modules held at senior centers, community-based organizations, churches, hospitals and schools, etc. A large part of my role is the production and execution of on our signature event, Feria de Salud at St. Mary’s Park, South Bronx, NY. This event is comprised of healthcare and education for seniors, adults, families and children. It is also an event that has many celebrities and sponsors such as Chef Ingrid Hoffman, musical artist Frankie Negron and SBS NY’s Mega 97.9 FM. During 2010 we brought in world-renowned music artist Gilberto Santa Rosa as a local and national spokesperson to represent and support the ADA mission. There is no limit to our participation in many unique and special events; we have even participated in 3rd party events such as the comedian/actor Jerry Seinfeld fundraiser at Madison square garden and NYC 5th Avenue Hispanic Day parade.
Question: Tell me about Diabetes and how it affects our lives.
Nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes and another 79 million are living with pre-diabetes. In New York alone, about 1.2 million people currently have diabetes and by 2050 1 in 3 Americans will have diabetes if action is not taken. Complications of diabetes include heart disease, high blood pressure, amputations, stroke, blindness and more, and diabetes causes all of our medical costs to rise. Nearly everyone you meet has been touched by diabetes, and if we do not stop this epidemic it will threaten to take our children and grandchildren’s future.
Question: What services, activities and initiatives do you offer that address diabetes?
The American Diabetes Association has many services and activities that are geared to all ages and ethnicities. We have our Por Tu Familia program, which offers nutrition, education workshops, festivals, health screenings and more for our Latino populations. We have our Live Empowered, Project Power and ID day, which are catered toward the African American population and deliver the same types of programs as Por Tu Familia but for this population. We also offer Stop Diabetes at Work, a program geared toward educating people in the workplace about diabetes, My Food Advisor, which provides diabetes friendly recipes. Lastly, we have our signature events, the Step Out Walk, American Diabetes Month, Alert Day, Tour de Cure cycling ride, EXPO and Feria de Salud. All events are fundraising and advocacy events, which seek to enhance our mission to Stop Diabetes. Lastly, the Association has a Research Foundation, which funds researchers who are working to find a cure to Stop Diabetes. To find out more about our programs, events and research visit diabetes.org/newyork.
Question: Who are some of your partners?
Each local office has their own local sponsors, but to see a list of our national sponsors, visit: http://www.diabetes.org/donate/sponsor/national-sponsors.html.
Question: What do you have planned for the Holiday season and next year?
The holiday season for ME and the ADA would be to celebrate by promoting healthy cultural cuisines during the prosperous time of unity, love & spirituality amongst family and friends.
Question: Are we winning the fight against Diabetes?
With every event and every program we are continuing to fight for a cure to Stop Diabetes by spreading awareness, raising money for advocacy and research, and helping people to educate themselves on how to manage diabetes and prevent the onset of diabetes.
Question: Are we near a cure?
Researchers are working hard every day to find new advancements to better manage diabetes and to hopefully unlock the key to finding a cure.
Question: Do we have any new ways to treat diabetes?
Like I stated above, researchers are working hard every day to find new advancements to better manage diabetes, and already today the way people take insulin has advanced so much. People are now able to wear a pump that will administer their insulin, versus having to manually inject insulin. Advancements continue every day.
Question: What words of wisdom do you have for children and parents regarding their health and diabetes?
The education on living a healthier lifestyle is very important and the biggest challenge most of us have is changing our lifestyle. The education is not just for one family member but for all of the family. Parents take care of their children but must also take care of themselves in order to live to see their children become adults. That’s why our program is named “Por tu Familia /For your Family”.
Question: How does someone get in touch with you to find out more about diabetes or the ADA?
https://www.facebook.com/adanewyork?ref=hl
https://twitter.com/newyorkada
Thank you Helene and we wish you and the ADA the best in your work to prevent, educate and cure diabetes.
FINAL MIX: Curing diabetes is an important goal and will need the support of many to achieve. The Hip-Hop Summit Youth Council, the Hip-Hop 4 Better Health Program, the ADA, Dr. Phillip Elliott (Nassau Deputy County Executive for Health & Human Services), Dr. Djibril Diallo (Senior adviser to the Executive Director of UNAIDS at the United Nations), and a host of other groups are talking about ways to help raise money and awareness about the plight of the disease here in the U.S. and abroad. Discussions of a “Global Task Force” with the United Nations are in development and if you want to be a part of the movement you can contact us at: hiphopsyc@aol.com.
