By Aubreanna Miller
editor@wayneherald.com
The Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department (NNPHD), covering the counties of Wayne, Dixon, Cedar and Thurston, has prioritized targeting and taking action against the area's primary health concerns. Through research, meetings with community members and stakeholders and working with Wayne State student service learning projects, the NNPHD continues its never-ending goal of overall healthier communities.
All around the world, diabetes disrupts the lives of many, even those who seem outwardly healthy. As explained by Dr. Barbara Engebretsen, Wayne State College (WSC) professor of exercise science and public and global health, the area of northeast Nebraska is no different.
Out of a need to combat the Type 2 Diabetes epidemic, a coalition between the NNPHD and community stakeholders arose: Diabetes on Track. Engebretsen and another WSC staff member, Angela Nuss, have served as part of the coalition since its start nearly two years ago.
The group conducted a study in Wayne and found, as of January 2024, 65.8% of adults in the community are at risk for prediabetes and diabetes. Of that percentage, only 15% have had screenings.
Though the number of at-risk adults who schedule a screening remains low, Engebretsen hopes this will soon change with an easier screening process. One that can be done in a matter of minutes, even at home.
"The screening can be as simple as a short questionnaire," Engebretsen explained. "By answering questions such as 'What is your family history with diabetes?, What are your eating and exercise behaviors? and What is your medical history?,' a person will receive a score that prompts them to move further if necessary."
Diabetes on Track is currently working on sending out the screening questionnaire to those in the Wayne area by mail, so everyone has a chance to monitor their health and the health of their loved ones. They will also offer a Spanish version.
Though a person might seem or feel healthy, Engebretsen still urges them to take the survey, regardless of age.
In addition to the survey, the coalition has implemented other free meetings, classes and educational opportunities to both minimize the effects diabetes has on those with the illness and to lessen the risk of people who sit on the cusp of a prediabetes or diabetes diagnosis.
The first is a series of healthy cooking classes taking place on April 19, June 21, Aug. 23 and Oct. 18. These classes, Nuss said, teach participants how to portion plates for themselves and their families to nourish the body. Through learning healthy options and exploring new flavors, this class teaches healthy eating in a delicious way that brings satisfaction, Nuss explained. To sign up, visit tinyurl.com/dotcookingclasses. The classes are also available in Spanish.
Nuss, and others, also host grocery store tours to connect community members, and their families, to healthy options they might not previously have thought of. There is also a support group called "Sweet Talk" where those with prediabetes or Type 2 Diabetes can talk with and learn from each other.
Some may have the mindset of current pleasures over healthy eating and exercising, but they should look ahead to their potential future hardships, Engebretsen said.
"We have a measurement called disability adjusted life years, which means the total years of life lost due to early death and years lived with complications due to the illness," she explained. "The consequences of uncontrolled diabetes can include things like kidney failure, blindness, amputations due to poor wound healing and more. These things greatly reduce your quality of life. And on average, those disability life years leave people having to rely on their dependents, or medical staff, for six to ten years. Someone else will need to read for them, shop for them, help with dialysis and more."
Nuss added the costs spent now on choosing healthier options at the grocery store in no way compare to the future costs of medical expenses due to diabetes complications.
The coalition has plans to bring educational opportunities to young people to empower them in their own health journeys.
As the incidence of diabetes in young people and childhood obesity continues to grow, Engebretsen explained the importance of starting healthy living young.
"There are so many social, environmental and even chemical factors that affect our health," she said. "By empowering young people to be partners in health, rather than saying 'you better not do this or eat that,' they will begin to see themselves as health advocates. They will remember how they felt watching complications from diabetes in their loved ones and we can help educate them on how those issues can be prevented. Then, they can act as advocates for healthier lifestyles in their social circles."
The coalition has more planned for the future including farm tours, exercise groups, community events and working with service learning projects.
For more information on diabetes and the coalition, visit diabetesontrack.org.
