Bunnell, Fla.—The Florida Department of Health in Flagler (DOH-Flagler) recognizes November 14 as World Diabetes Day and the entire month as Diabetes Awareness Month. World Diabetes Day was first created in 1991 by the International Diabetes Foundation and the World Health Organization. Diabetes is a chronic disease that cause lead to serious health conditions like heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, and lower-limb amputation.

“Reducing the incidence of diabetes has been a public health priority for Flagler County for a few years,” said Health Administrator Robert Snyder with DOH-Flagler. “Fourteen percent of Flagler residents have diabetes and another 35 percent are overweight or obese… That’s a problem and a reason why we started our diabetes education program almost two years ago. However, based on feedback and results we have seen, this program is making a difference in our community.” 

One way DOH-Flagler’s diabetes team has made a difference is through AdventHealth Palm Coast Foundation’s DiaBEATes Alliance. This diverse coalition of community members advocates to prevent and raise awareness about diabetes. In the past two weeks, the Alliance, which includes Intracoastal Bank, the City of Palm Coast, City of Flagler Beach and others, received proclamations from the City of Palm Coast and the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners recognizing November as Diabetes Awareness month and November 14 as World Diabetes Day.

This year, the health department and Alliance members will host an event for World Diabetes Day, Saturday, Nov. 14. The health and wellness event will take place in Town Center’s Central Park between 3 and 4PM, featuring free diabetes screenings, giveaways, fitness activities with MPower Fitness and Hot Yoga Lounge, and a walk around the lake. Participants will be asked to practice social distancing and wear masks, and diabetes educators will be there to answer your questions. Come dressed for a workout and get ready to have some fun while showing support for diabetes prevention and treatment. You can register online here.

Through its Diabetes Education Center, the Florida Department of Health in Flagler County helps those diagnosed with diabetes lead healthier lives and helps others prevent the disease. In addition to diabetes self-management and prevention classes, free blood sugar screenings are offered weekdays from 8:30 to 3:00PM. The Flagler County Health Department office’s address is 206 Dr. Carter Blvd. in Bunnell. For more information call 386-313-7263 or 386-313-7264.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. You may also learn more at  www.FloridaHealth.gov.

For information about the Florida Department of Health in Flagler, go to flagler.floridahealth.gov, call 386-437-7350, or visit 301 Dr. Carter Blvd. in Bunnell. You can also listen to our weekly talk radio show “Flagler Health Matters,” Saturdays at 11:30AM, airing on WNZF News Radio 94.9FM or streaming at https://www.flaglerbroadcasting.com/wnzf.