SIKESTON - The American Diabetes Foundation reports there are 15.7 million people in the United States who have diabetes. While an estimated 10.3 million have been diagnosed, five million don't realize they have it.
And according to 1999 estimates from the American Heart Association, more than 61 million Americans have one or more forms of cardiovascular disease.
These are serious diseases. But with today's knowledge, advanced technology and public education about preventative measures, there is hope.
On Friday, internists, family practitioners, cardiologists and other health professionals who treat patients with or at risk for the diseases are invited to learn more about contemporary clinical issues in cardiovascular disease.
Sponsored by the Association of Black Cardiologists Inc., registration for the dinner symposium begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Ramada Inn Restaurant, followed by dinner at 7 p.m. and the program from 7:10-9:10 p.m.
The event is supported by an educational grant from GlaxoSmithKline.
Speakers will include Samuel Dagogo-Jack, M.D., Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, who will discuss ways to improve cardiovascular outcomes in the diabetic patient. He is a professor of medicine, endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at the University of Tennessee's College of Medicine in Memphis.
An interventional cardiologist at North Phoenix Heart Center in Phoenix, Ariz., Paul Underwood, M.D., Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, will point out ways to extend the benefits of neurohormonal antagonism.
Host for the evening will be Muhannad Al-Kilani, M.D.
It was in 1996 when Dianne Jackson, a registered nurse and certified family nurse practitioner, urged the Association of Black Cardiologists Inc., or ABC to come to the area to talk to health care professionals and they've been coming at least once a year ever since.
"The members of ABC always went to urban areas, not rural areas and being a member myself, I convinced them to come here. It's important," she said.
Jackson urges interested individuals to come and learn about not only risks for African-Americans, but for everyone else as well. "There is a steady increase in diabetes in our area and this is an opportunity for health professionals to come and learn more about cardiovascular heart disease and diabetes," said Jackson.
"What many people don't realize is that you don't die from diabetes, you die from the complications which are kidney failure or heart failure. This is going to be an update on what's available and facts and figures that have been released. We want people to take advantage of this opportunity, it's going to be a great workshop."
Deemed a silent killer, life-threatening complications of diabetes include blindness, kidney disease, nerve disease and amputations and heart disease and stroke. This disease is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.
Forms of cardiovascular heart disease include high blood pressure, coronary heart disease and stroke which claimed the lives of 958,775 people in 1999.
The ABC designates this event as worth two credit hours in Category 1 toward the American Medical Association Physician's Recognition Award. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit that he or she actually spent in the educational activity.
To register call 888-874-6559 or 678-302-4222; online at www.abcardio.org or by email, cme@abcardio.org