Della Reese Speaks at "Taking Control of Your Diabetes" Conference May 8

"Touched By An Angel" star Della Reese will speak in Greater Cincinnati May 8 on how she is able to live a full, active life with type 2 diabetes.

Reese, who says the answer is in eating right, staying active, and taking medication every day, is participating in the "Taking Control of Your Diabetes" conference at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center.

The conference is jointly sponsored by the UC College of Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) and the non-profit educational organization "Taking Control of Your Diabetes" (TCOYD).

Intended for diabetic patients, health care providers, family and friends, this patient-oriented event is intended to motivate people with diabetes, as well as their loved ones, to take an active role in their condition in order to live healthier and happier lives.

Reese will address a working lunch from 12:15 to to1:45 p.m. Other speakers include Steven Edelman, MD, of the University of California School of Medicine, and founder of TCOYD; and Michael Bliss, PhD, University of Toronto, author of the book "The Discovery of Insulin." 

They will discuss diet, exercise, psychosocial barriers to good control, legal aspects of living with diabetes, carb counting, the glycemic index of foods, avoiding the insulin/sugar roller coaster, recognizing hypoglycemia, new medications and islet cell transplants as treatments for diabetes.  

The conference was organized jointly by Tammy DiMuzio, RN, MS, at CCHMC, and Barbara Ramlo-Halsted, MD, of UC College of Medicine.  DiMuzio, diabetes education nurse specialist at CCHMC, founded the Diabetes Educators of the Cincinnati Area (DECA) and is a member of the American Diabetes Association Board of Directors for Greater Cincinnati.  Dr. Ramlo-Halsted, associate director of UC's Endocrinology Fellowship Training Program, is actively involved in diabetes research through the UC Endocrinology Clinical Trials Unit.

Cost of the full day conference is $30.  For more information or to register, call 1-800-998-2693 or 858-775-5683.