ATTENTION: Assignment Desk & Health Reporters
**Spanish Audio** Latinos Managing Diabetes During the Holidays and Cold Winter Months Have Special Challenges
Spanish Audio File Available for Download
According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 5 million U.S. Hispanics have diabetes. That is a percentage that far exceeds the U.S. general population.
Type 2 Diabetes, the most common form of the disease, occurs when either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells cannot use the insulin it does produce. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas and is necessary for many parts of the body to be able to use glucose for energy (glucose is the main type of sugar in the blood).
Because diabetes is life-changing, newly diagnosed patients are often overwhelmed. Doctors are the first line of information for the patient, but support from the patient’s community is also essential. Since the holidays can be especially challenging for a diabetic to navigate the holiday food spread and colder weather, programs are available to help.
Doctors can point newly diagnosed diabetics to support groups within their communities. Merck & Co. sponsors one such program and it’s called Journey For Control. The program aims to improve patient outcomes by making diabetes self-management education culturally relevant, informative and easy to understand.
Our story follows Antonia Correa and her brother. Both are Hispanics that suffer from diabetes. Mrs. Correa and her brother take advantage of programs offered by a variety of organizations including the American Diabetes Association and the Merck Journey for Control program.
Type 2 Diabetes, the most common form of the disease, occurs when either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells cannot use the insulin it does produce. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas and is necessary for many parts of the body to be able to use glucose for energy (glucose is the main type of sugar in the blood).
Because diabetes is life-changing, newly diagnosed patients are often overwhelmed. Doctors are the first line of information for the patient, but support from the patient’s community is also essential. Since the holidays can be especially challenging for a diabetic to navigate the holiday food spread and colder weather, programs are available to help.
Doctors can point newly diagnosed diabetics to support groups within their communities. Merck & Co. sponsors one such program and it’s called Journey For Control. The program aims to improve patient outcomes by making diabetes self-management education culturally relevant, informative and easy to understand.
Our story follows Antonia Correa and her brother. Both are Hispanics that suffer from diabetes. Mrs. Correa and her brother take advantage of programs offered by a variety of organizations including the American Diabetes Association and the Merck Journey for Control program.
For more, visit www.JourneyForControl.com
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