OVMC’s Receives Diabetes Grant from Local FOE
06/15/07

Contact: Howard Gamble
Title: Marketing & Public Relations
Phone: (304)234-8135

Ohio Valley Medical Center received a grant from the Moundsville Fraternal Order of Eagles, Auxiliary #499. F.O.E. members Mary McClellan and Nancy Carter presented a check to Pat Bonyak, RN Diabetes Educator at OVMC.
The F.O.E. donates to area health and services organization throughout the year. Funds are raised through raffles and other F.O.E events. The donated funds will be used by OVMC to provide supplies for local diabetes patients who are having trouble purchasing necessary diabetes supplies.

In 2005 OVMC used a Moundsville F.O.E. grant to purchase toy teddy bears to help teach children about Diabetes and living with the disease. The bears, “Rufus” and “Ruby” has colored patches to show a child where they can practice giving injections and finger pokes.

“We are very grateful for this financial gift,” said Diabetes Educator Pat Bonyak. “Last year we used the donation to help offset the cost of patient’s testing strips for their blood glucose meters. At times patients are required to test their blood sugar one to three times a day.”

Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.

People with diabetes should check their blood sugar levels regularly, one to two times a day, according to Bonyak. “Those who check their blood sugars regularly are better able to know what affects their levels and how to control their diabetes. The problem is that the cost of strips can often hinder someone from testing regularly,” said Bonyak.

Almost everyone knows someone who has diabetes. There are 20.8 million children and adults in the United States, or 7% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 6.2 million people are unaware that they have the disease.

There are several types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes results from the body’s failure to produce insulin, the hormone that "unlocks" the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them. It is estimated that 5-10% of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes, the most common type of diabetes, results from a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin, combined with relative insulin deficiency.

Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnant women. Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person’s blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. There are 54 million Americans who have pre-diabetes, in addition to the 20.8 million with diabetes.

Ohio Valley Medical Center, located in Wheeling West Virginia, and East Ohio Regional Hospital, located in Martins Ferry Ohio, is a 340 bed combined organization providing quality primary and tertiary healthcare to the Ohio Valley. Ohio Valley Health Services and Education Corporation is the integrated health care delivery system comprising of the two hospitals, River Health Enterprises and Family Service-Upper Ohio Valley.