5th Annual November Diabetes Seminar, A Success

"Together We Can!" was the theme of the night at the Riverside Community Diabetes Collaborative’s (RCDC) 5th Annual November Diabetes Seminar that took place on Monday, Nov. 16 at the Riverside Convention Center. The seminar focused on managing diabetes through healthy eating, regulating blood sugar, working on the emotional aspect of the disease, and more. Presenters at the seminar included Registered Dietician Kelly Weiss, Dr. Susan Jung Guzman, and Registered Nurse Amy Brant. Out of roughly 50 attendees, the majority either had diabetes or were a caregiver for someone with diabetes. Participants were also provided the opportunity to check their A1C, which is a common blood test used to diagnose type 1 and type 2 diabetes and also gauge how well the patient is managing their diabetes. The Diabetes Academy mini-session was presented by Maria Blanca Tyson, MPH, RN, CDE. She focused on the differences in symptoms for low blood sugar levels and high blood sugar levels and highlighted the fact that they can have similar symptoms. “I was surprised by the fact that it could be high or low sugar levels depending on the symptoms that you have. I thought my sugar was dropping, but then when I tested it before taking anything I noticed it was high so people don’t know that. It could be either high or low depending on the symptoms so that was good to find out,” said Linda, Riverside resident who sat in a mini-session at the beginning of the seminar. Executive Chef Brad Martin, featured on ABC’s hit show “The Taste,” presented a healthy cooking demonstration at the beginning of the seminar. Participants were encouraged to ask Martin questions about cooking with diabetes. “The things to pay attention to are portion size, not adding too much salt and sugar, and make your food flavorful! Not everything needs a sauce,” said Chef Martin. Following Chef Martin was Registered Dietician Kelly Weiss presenting on healthy eating during the holidays. “My hope is you take some of these tips back home to help keep your blood sugar low during the holidays,” said Weiss. Keynote Speaker, Dr. Susan Guzman is a clinical psychologist specializing in diabetes and her presentation focused on addressing the emotional aspects of diabetes. Her clinical and research focus areas include overcoming barriers to good management, family issues, and promoting attitudes that support living well with diabetes, from diagnosis throughout life. The seminar takes place annually and is hosted by RCDC, which is a group of more than 40 diabetes-focused organizations and businesses that work together to strengthen community programs and services for the prevention and management of diabetes in Riverside and surrounding areas. RCDC is an initiative of the Riverside Community Health Foundation (RCHF), a leading health foundation that focuses on developing lasting programs and local services for the well being of our communities. This year’s event was funded by Kaiser Permanente, Novo Nordisk, Riverside University Health Systems, Mini Pharmacy, City of Riverside, IEHP, Molina Healthcare, and Riverside Community Health Foundation.