By: Christy Roby, Muscatine Public Health
Diabetes impacts people of all social and economic circles and is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States. Scientific evidence shows that interventions to help people manage diabetes can help reduce the risk of complications. In addition, there are effective preventative strategies to help people eat healthier, get physical activity, and lose weight, which can reduce the onset of diabetes.
“Often individuals with pre-diabetes and diabetes don’t know they have it, which can negatively impact additional health outcomes,” says Christy Roby, director of Trinity Muscatine Public Health. “For example, poorly controlled or untreated diabetes can lead to poor circulation and possible amputations, vision loss, kidney damage, and other serious health conditions including death.”
Diabetes affects people in Muscatine.
UnityPoint® Clinic Mulberry – Diabetes and Endocrinology recently welcomed Cory Straub, MD, to its team of dedicated providers.
Diabetes is a serious yet manageable condition. Dr. Straub has lived with type one diabetes since a very young age, and she understands that the right treatments and regimens can positively impact the quality of life.
UnityPoint Health–Trinity Muscatine has several services available to assist people with diabetes and prediabetes. Photo courtesy of UnityPoint Health.
Data provided through the Muscatine County Health Improvement Plan between 2017-2019 found:
• The annual average diabetes mortality rate was 51.2 deaths per 100,000 population in Muscatine County.
• 11.2% of Muscatine County adults report having been diagnosed with diabetes.
• 10.3% of adults in Muscatine County have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes.
It’s alarming just how many people are affected by diabetes in Muscatine County. Combining the resources of Dr. Straub and Muscatine Public Health will help those impacted by the disease.
To change these statistics, Muscatine Public Health has partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to offer a national diabetes prevention program. The year-long program helps individuals develop lifestyle changes to improve food choices and increase physical activity.
The program begins with weekly video lessons for the first six months, then progresses to monthly sessions. A trained lifestyle coach will provide personalized support, guidance, and education every step of the way. Participants will also have access to a community forum with other members, allowing them to get and give support, tips, motivation, and information.
“Participating in this program can decrease your risk of developing type two diabetes by over 50%,” says Roby. “You can truly change your health outcomes!”
The fee for this year-long program is $450. A discounted rate of $350 is offered for payment in full at the time of registration for the program. For more information and to sign-up, please call 563-264-9154 or email [email protected].
Dr. Straub is accepting new patients for appointments on Mondays and Tuesdays. Please call 563-264-9300 to schedule.
