Thousands of Volunteers From 125 Countries Join in Las Vegas to Tackle Global Challenges and Some of Sin City's Top Health Issues
Local Lions Launch New Non-Profit Group to Address Growing Diabetes Problem
LAS VEGAS, June 27, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 15,000 Lions club volunteers gather in Las Vegas June 29- July 3 to address prominent global needs including local challenges affecting Las Vegans.
Lions International, the word's largest service organization, concludes its 100th year convening more than 15,000 members and their families from 125 nations at the MGM Grand to talk about how their global army of volunteers can tackle needs ranging from blindness to hunger and now diabetes, announced as Lions' new signature cause last year.
Las Vegas Lions clubs have recently assembled a new diabetes specialty group which will map out plans to educate the public about diabetes and provide screenings to cut down on the high number of undiagnosed cases.
As a Las Vegas Lions member and board certified foot surgeon with a specialty in diabetic wound care and limb salvage, Doctor Denise Tropea, DPM administers foot screenings with the new diabetes group to determine if someone has diabetes or how well a known diabetic is managing his/her condition.
"Diabetes affects the very small vessels of the body such as the eyes or kidneys," said Dr. Tropea, who joined the Lions diabetes wellness club to give back to the community with a goal to help Lions volunteers become the "foot soldiers" of diabetes.
"Nerve damage is common among diabetics and if there is damage and the diabetic can't feel it, even the smallest wound like a blister can lead to a full blown ulcer because of what diabetes does to the body."
Lions conduct these foot screenings throughout Las Vegas and the surrounding area. "The foot screenings are not innovative, but they sure are critical, especially because we know 50% of diabetics don't even know they have the disease which can be a life or death situation."
Diabetes is one of the fastest growing diseases in the world currently affecting 425 million people of all races, income levels and ages. This was the leading factor for Lions International in choosing their new signature cause, because the diverse nature of the disease calls for a global network of volunteers administering diabetes aid.
According to the Nevada Diabetes Association, an estimated 10,000 people are diagnosed with diabetes each year and approximately 281,355 people, or 12.4% of the adult population, already have diabetes. Of these, an estimated 75,000 have diabetes but don't know it, greatly increasing their health risk.
In addition to a high diabetes rate, 787,000 people in Nevada, 38.5% of the adult population, have prediabetes with blood glucose levels higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Diabetes and prediabetes cost an estimated $2.4 billion in Nevada annually and can lead to other chronic disease including heart disease, stroke, amputation, end-stage kidney disease, blindness – and death.
According to a 2017 USDA report there is a connection between chronic diseases such as diabetes and food insecurity—another issue Lions aims to provide aid for through local volunteer efforts during the convention, with Las Vegas non-profits such as Vegas Roots on Friday, June 29th from 7-9:30am.
Lions will volunteer at Vegas Roots Community Garden, a grassroots organization whose mission is to provide opportunities to grow food, learn about gardening and wellness and be a catalyst for positive change in low-income communities.
"A healthy diet is truly a matter of life and death for diabetics and gardening is a great way to make meaningful connections to the food we should eat," says Tropea who is one of the volunteers on Friday.
As a diabetic and a local Lions volunteer, 52-year-old Judi Temple has nerve damage in her stomach creating a struggle with her diet that goes well beyond the typical diabetic dietary challenges. Designated as the Lions club diabetic awareness coordinator for the state of Nevada, Judi hopes to educate Nevadans about diabetes and create more awareness of the dietary challenges.
"Much of mainstream society doesn't think about diabetes or what diabetics go through when there are only high-carb food options to choose from," said Temple, who developed Type 1 diabetes unexpectedly at the age of 42 when her pancreas was attacked by a secondary virus she contracted after the flu.
"When considering special dietary needs, most people ask if you are a vegetarian or gluten free, but they don't think to ask if you are diabetic," added Temple. "We need more understanding and awareness about dietary implications for diabetics. If I consume artificial sugars, for example, I am in bed for 24 hours. Diabetics need additional food choices much like vegetarians do. It would be great to start seeing dinner events offer a 'fruit option' for a dessert."
Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization, with nearly 1.5 million members in over 200 countries or geographic areas. Lions serve their communities in a number of ways, with a focus on diabetes, hunger relief, protecting the environment, childhood cancer, and vision. For more information visit www.lionsclubs.org.
SOURCE Lions Clubs International
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