The Rotary Club of Poipu Beach is the first contributor to the newly formed Diabetes Association of Kauai. Club members recently presented a check for $2,500 to Dr. Dean Thomas, President and Medical Director of the association. “This donation provides
The Rotary Club of Poipu Beach is the first contributor to the newly formed Diabetes Association of Kauai. Club members recently presented a check for $2,500 to Dr. Dean Thomas, President and Medical Director of the association.
“This donation provides seed money for the purpose of incorporating the organization, establishing IRS non-profit status and covering start up costs such as insurance,” said Rotarian Leila Fuller, the interim secretary of the association.
An interim board of directors founded the Diabetes Association of Kauai in May.
Assisting Thomas is past State Senator Jonathan Chun, who will provide legal guidance. Dennis Nimke, CPA and President of the Rotary Club of Kalepa Sunrise serves as treasurer. Judy Arrigo, director at large, provides corporate direction and also serves on the Budget and Allocations committee of Kauai United Way. Fuller is the fifth director, she also serves as Director of Development and Finance for the YWCA.
The interim board chose D.Q. Jackson as Executive Director. Jackson is the former president of the Heart Association, Ho’ike – Kaua’i Community T.V., and the Rotary Club of Poipu Beach.
“The Diabetes Association of Kaua’i has three primary goals,” said Jackson. “Community health education is the most important. The incidence of diabetes on Kaua’i is increasing. There are many reasons for the increase and there are actions that some Kauaians can take to prevent the development of the disease. Research is rapidly providing new mechanisms for control of diabetes so Kauaians need to have the most up to date information on new medications and equipment if they are going to avoid further harm from diabetes.”
“Clinical health education is just as important. With the rapid advances in diabetes treatment it’s imperative that the latest information be available to Kaua’i’s medical personnel. A primary focus will be Kaua’i’s nurses. Keeping up with the veritable avalanche of new drugs, equipment and therapies is never easy, but it’s the nurses at the patients’ bedside 24 hours a day who will likely have the greatest impact on the ability of patients and their families to control diabetes. The Diabetes Association looks forward to providing educational opportunities in traditional as well as ‘creative’ venues.”
“The number of people on Kaua’i with diabetes is difficult to exactly state, but Department of Health statistics suggest that 3,000 may be a very real number. Most distressing to board members is the fact that of those people somewhere around 663 don’t know they have the disease. They don’t usually find out until the symptoms become so pronounced that they are forced to seek help. Unfortunately, the disease process has been relentlessly causing damage all that time. The Diabetes Association will try to help people self-discover their condition as early as possible to minimize damage.
For more information call 332-6075.
