Brenda Berry, Pre-diabetes and Diabetes
Buckets on the table are for the Rockport, Texas Rotary Club.
President Mik introduced Chum Berry who introduced Brenda Berry, our speaker and a nurse for many years, first at Camden Hospital and now at Pen Bay. Her talk was on diabetes and pre diabetes. Her focus on Type II Diabetes, which was once more typical for people over 40, but now is diagnosed in people as young as 5. She works with people to manage their diabetes through diet, exercise and medication management. Not everyone needs medication. She conducts classes for people who are pre diabetic to try to prevent the disease. Over 30 million (9.4%) of the US population, about 25% of senior citizens, with 1.5 million new cases a year, and a leading cause of death. Cases can result in extremity loss, kidney disease and blindness.
Diabetes presents a huge cost to the medical field and society. Total direct expenses in 2012 was $1.2BN in Maine, and over $400 million in lost wages according to the American Diabetes Association. For those she works with, the more attentive they are to checking their blood sugar, and analyzing the information and responding appropriately the better they are managing their diabetes. She recommends patients be their own advocate about the medication they are prescribed, including the side effects. Some medications can result in diabetes, like prednisone, or illness can, like pancreatic cancer, and it is still a diagnosis of diabetes.
Bruce Peal has been proposed for membership, and absent objection, will be inducted next week. He is being proposed by Etienne Perret.
Mik shared some dates, including November 18, Rotary Leadership Institute in Lewiston.
MBH&H and we received $3600 from the boat show this year.
Polio Walk this year in Belfast, including a train ride to Brooks, and Sandy Cox will have more information starting next week.
Ron Hall awarded Every Rotary Every Year recognition for those giving $100 or more to the Rotary Foundation. Roberta Smith, was recognized.
Mark Masterson reported on last week's Chowder Challenge during the Windjammer Days over Labor Day. 8 chowders participated in the competition, $1900 in sponsorships, around $3000 for ticket sales. He and Sandy are looking for folks to take over the Chili and Chowder challenges in the coming year. Graffam's Seafood won.
There's a sign-up going around for a Brunch at Jan Campbell's on September 17. She is also looking for ideas for a holiday party.
Mark Coursey is circulating a sign up for Saturday the 16th a Habitat project in Warren.
Next week's speaker will be Peter Berke.
Terry Bregy auctioned off a Tortugas Rum Cake made by Verna Cummins, in a traditional Cayman Islands fashion. Tim Dresesr was the high bidder at $45.
Deb Fink shared a slide show of images from projects in which the club participated in August, including One Less Worry and the Maine Boats Homes and Harbors Show. $1,130 was raised for One Less Worry.
Lisa Dresser reported November 2 will be a Rotary Brew Fellowship gathering somewhere in or near Camden. Stay tuned for more details.