Several community organizations and leaders, along with Phoebe, are partnering to fight diabetes in Southwest Georgia. Last week the newly formed Southwest Georgia Diabetes Coalition held its inaugural meeting- kicking off the coalition’s fight against the disease in our region.
 
Almost a year in the making, the Southwest Georgia Diabetes Coalition was formed after the 2016-2019 Community Needs Assessment revealed staggering evidence of diabetes prevalence in this area. “When we looked at the data from the community needs assessment, it was overwhelming. We immediately began reaching out to our community partners to help develop a coalition dedicated to fighting this disease and raising awareness,” said Tracy Suber, MSN, Ed, RN, director of the Diabetes Resource Center at Phoebe.
 
Nationally, diabetes is on the rise. In Georgia, the disease rate exceeds the national average hovering at 7.9 percent with costs reported at $7.5 billion in 2012. In Southwest Georgia, the rate is even higher at 12.78 percent. The mission of the coalition is to raise awareness and implement programs addressing primary and secondary prevention strategies of diabetes, its complications, disabilities and burdens.
 
“Diabetes is not a stand-alone disease. Unfortunately, there are other health concerns that can arise with the disease which is why it is important for us as a community to help identify those individuals at high risk for diabetes and provide them the resources needed to manage the disease properly,” continued Suber.
 
Comorbidities and complications associated with diabetes include hypertension and dyslipidemia which increases cardiovascular disease death rates, as well as heart attacks and stroke. Other health threats also include eye problems, blindness, kidney disease, and amputations.
 
Dr. Derek Heard, family medicine physician at Phoebe Primary Care of Albany and chair of the coalition, says diabetes has become a scourge in Southwest Georgia and that it is important to have everyone at the table to address the issue.
 
Members of the Southwest Georgia Diabetes Coalition include: Albany Area Primary Health Care; Albany Internal Medicine; Aspire Behavioral Health; Frank Wilson, Advocate; Dougherty County Health Department; Horizons Community Solutions; Limb Care; Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital; Phoebe Physicians, SOWEGA Council on Aging; Southwest Georgia Public Health District; and Christina Kile, MD, The Veranda.
 
Additionally, the Birth Outcomes Coalition kick-off last week to address poor birth outcomes, including premature births.  Each year in the United States, more than a half-a-million babies - 1 of 8 - are born prematurely.  According to Southwest Georgia Department of Public Health Director Charles Ruis, Dougherty County’s maternal and infant death is 12 to 15 percent, while the state average is 8 to 9 percent.