News

Following the success of the inaugural ‘Get On Track Expo’ in 2013, ACE Diabetes is set to launch the 2nd annual ‘Get On Track Expo’ with the same aim to prevent and protect.

This free event will be held Saturday, November 8th, 2014 at the New Providence Community Centre from 10am to 2pm.

Pre-registration for the Expo is encouraged, with complimentary breakfast beginning at 9am for pre-registrants, courtesy of Baha Mar. To pre-register visit http://www.acediabetes.org.

This event brings together a variety of organizations within the community to present information about diabetes-related products and services. The expo covers all aspects of diabetes and the prevention of diabetes. Healthcare professionals will be available to discuss and provide information on eye care, dental care, physical activity, healthy eating, weight loss, blood sugar monitoring, and medications. Attendees can also learn about new products, services and technology for people with diabetes and more.

“The goal of this expo is to increase awareness and improve the overall health of our community,” said Anita Cates, a registered nurse, co-founder of ACE Diabetes and organizer of the Get on Track Expo.

“We want people to have fun as they explore the resources and information being made available to them.”

Expo highlights include a cooking demonstration performed by Chef Jacques Carlino of Blue Caviar. Chef Jacques will be making a delectable Teriyaki chicken stir fry, vegetarian Moroccan tagine with couscous and French vinaigrette with vegetables, ending with a scrumptious dessert. Mac Fit Pro will get expo attendees pumped up and excited with a dynamic 20 minute demonstration on fit and fun exercises. In the greenhouse, Field to Fork Community Farm will offer a demonstration on backyard farming and how to grow your own food.

Attendees are invited to bring all their questions about diabetes to the “Ask The Experts” session featuring Dr. Graham Cates and internationally-renowned Dr. David Marrero, who was instrumental in the design and execution of the “Diabetes Prevention Program”.

“We want to encourage a sense of empowerment; we want people to leave the expo believing that they can take control of their health and know the steps to take. Diabetes takes away control and leaves you dependent on others. Through the ‘Get On Track’ Expo we aim to educate people on how to get back in control, how to get back on track, with their health and lives,” said Nurse Cates.

Free health screenings and loads of prizes and giveaways will be available throughout the expo. A Raffle will be held, giving attendees the chance to win a 3 day/2 night Staycation at the luxurious and highly anticipated Baha Mar resort which is set to open in late Spring 2015. The stay includes 2 spa services.

Bahamas Retina and Eye Care Services, a private Ophthalmology facility which aims to promote eye health, will be offering free mini comprehensive medical eye exams for glaucoma, cataracts, and other elements of diabetic eye disease. Free educational material will also be available. Primary prevention is essential in the fight against the major causes of blindness in this region.

ACE Diabetes was established in 2012 to address the overwhelming need in The Bahamas for diabetes awareness and the challenge of managing diabetes on a daily basis.

“The Get On Track Expo is beneficial not only for people with diabetes, but also for their families, caregivers, and anyone who may be at risk for developing diabetes,” said Anita Cates, “It is an excellent opportunity for anyone in the community to learn more about diabetes, correct misconceptions and ask questions.”

“This event is made possible with the help of our generous sponsors, with special thanks to our gold, silver and bronze sponsors: Baha Mar; Bahamas Retina & Eye Care Services; Diabetes Education Network; Albany Resort; BAF Financial & Insurance (Bahamas) Ltd.; Commonwealth Drugs and Medical Supplies Company; Medtronic; Nassau Agencies: Boehringer Ingelheim.”

The ‘Get On Track Expo’ is free and open to the public. It will be held on Saturday November 8th from 10:00am to 2:00pm at The New Providence Community Centre on Blake Road.

Pre-register online for a complimentary breakfast available from 9am-10am before the official start of the expo. For more information visit http://www.acediabetes.org or call 327-2878.

Photo Captions: Booths and activities from the very successful inaugural expo, attended by more than 300 people. This year promises even more activities, prizes and giveaways.

 

Calling For a Lifestyle Intervention

ACE Diabetes is hosting a free seminar for medical and healthcare professionals on Friday, November 7th at the New Providence Community Centre on Blake Road. The event starts promptly at 6:30pm and includes dinner and drinks.

World-renowned diabetes expert Dr. David Marrero will be delivering the keynote address on “How To Prevent Diabetes in Your Patients” during which he will share practical pearls from the Diabetes Prevention Program.

Dr. Marrero was instrumental in the design and execution of the program which found that an intensive lifestyle intervention can reduce the development of diabetes by more than half in adults with pre-diabetes. He has worked in diabetes education and research for more than 25 years and over the past 10 years this research has been focused on the translation of clinical trials of primary prevention of type 2 diabetes in the public health. His center was responsible for translating the Diabetes Prevention Program to the YMCA and developing the curriculum and training models for the Centers for Disease Control’s National Diabetes Prevention Program. He also worked on adapting Weight Watchers, a commercial weight loss program for the delivery of diabetes primary prevention programs.

“As healthcare professionals we CAN make a difference by preventing the progression of pre-diabetes in our patients and we are pleased to have an expert of this calibre sharing his research with us,” said Dr. Graham Cates, founder of ACE Diabetes.

The free event is sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, facilitated by Nassau Agencies. The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world’s 20 leading pharmaceutical companies with focus on researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing new medications, including insulin for people with diabetes.

Registration starts at 6:00pm, with the seminar officially commencing at 6:30pm, on Friday November 7th. Seating may be limited so participants are encouraged to pre-register online at www.acediabetes.org/symposium/ or by calling 242-327-2878

Dr. Marrero will also be participating in the ACE Diabetes Get On Track Expo on Saturday, November 8th – a free fun-filled event featuring prizes and giveaways plus demonstrations in cooking, fitness, farming and more. Dr. Marrero will be one of the experts, along with Dr. Graham Cates, during an “Ask The Experts” session.

About Dr. David Marrero
Dr. David Marrero is J.O. Ritchey Endowed Professor of Medicine and Director, Diabetes Translational Research Center, at Indiana University School of Medicine. He has worked in diabetes education and research for more than 25 years. He also has more than 200 publications in lay and professional journals including Diabetes Care and The Diabetes Educator. Dr. Marrero has been an American Diabetes Association volunteer since the 1980s. He is a member of the American Diabetes Association’s Board of Directors and has also served or is serving on numerous committees. In 2008, he was the recipient of the American Diabetes Association Outstanding Educator in Diabetes Award and the Josiah K. Lilly Distinguished Service Award. He holds a PhD, master of arts and bachelor of arts in Social Ecology from the University of California, Irvine. He is a member of the American Diabetes Association’s Pinnacle Society and Summit Circle.

About ACE Diabetes
ACE Diabetes was established in 2012 to address the overwhelming need in The Bahamas for diabetes awareness and the challenge of managing diabetes on a daily basis. The ultimate goal is to reduce the burden of diabetes on individuals, families, communities and healthcare systems, and, by supporting good health, prevent or delay the onset of diabetes related long-term complications (IDF Standards 2009). Raising awareness in The Bahamas of this ever-growing disease is one of the main efforts behind the mission of ACE. ACE Diabetes informs, inspires, and shows compassion to people who are impacted by diabetes, and in the process positivity affecting lives and facilitating an improved quality of life. ACE Diabetes is all about diabetes in real life. ACE’s aim is to empower people by considering the whole person, including their physical social, emotional, spiritual, financial needs. Find out more at www.acediabetes.org.

There is a lot on the schedule for the ACE Diabetes Get On Track Expo: free health screenings – including for cataracts and eye problems, demonstrations in cooking, fitness and farming, Ask The Experts, loads of prizes and giveaways, plus a grand raffle. There will be an abundance of information, displays and samples.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8th, from 10am to 2pm at The New Providence Community Centre

Register in advance to get a free healthy breakfast between 9am and 10am before the expo starts, courtesy of Baha Mar:
www.acediabetes.org/event-registration/