The KIPDA Tri-County Rural Diabetes Coalition announced its core formation members this month, which bodes well for a creative plan to combat diabetes in the Kentucky region. 
The next coalition meeting will be held tomorrow, on April 21st, at the Henry County Extension office, 2151 Campbellsburg Road (Hwy 421) from 10:30 AM to 12:30 AM.
The KIPDA Rural Diabetes Coalition, under a $2.5 Million Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grant, expects to impact the diabetes prevalence statistics seen from Shelby, Bullitt, and Henry within the next five years. These counties have been identified in the Bluegrass State as having the highest incidence of diabetes (10.1%), higher than the average rate for Kentucky (9.9%) and US (7.7%), according to the Center for Disease Control.
Members of the coalition are as follows: Dr. Deborah Ballard, Centers for Prevention and Wellness, Norton Healthcare; Sandy Bennett, District Manager, Sanofi-Avenis Pharmaceuticals; Renee Blair, North Central Health Department; Yolanda Bradford, Executive Director, HJW Career & Financial Literacy Institute, Inc.; Christy Branstetter, Finance Manager, Multi-Purpose Community Action Agency, Inc.; Todd Early, Shelby County EMS; Michelle Eckhart; Laura Escobar-Ratliff, Unit Manager, Seven County Services; William Fane; Sheila Fawbush, Shelby County Extension Agency; Megan Givan, R.D., L.D.; Elisia Gnagie, Masonic Home of Shelbyville; Helen Harrah, Doctorate in Education; Sarah Hill, Caretenders Home Health; Sharon Jamison, Park DuValle Community Health Center; Dr. Swannie Jett, Bullitt Public Health Director; Dr. Clifton Keller; Debbie Lentz, RD, MS, LD; Donna Meador, RN, MSN, and VP, Clinical Services, Jewish Hospital; Dallas Milliner; Angela Parrett, Smith McKinney Pharmacy; Theresa Renn, Kentucky Diabetes Prevention and Control Program; Linda Loving Simms, Business Association of Lebanon Junction; and Jean Stodghill, APRN, Park DuValle Community Health Center.
Members of the general public, county government officials, public health workers, children of aging parents, medical professionals, local parks officials, and commercial businesses invested in healthy eating choices are anticipated to attend the next coalition meeting. All are welcome. If you are attending, contact Bonnie Buchanan, program manager for the KIPDA Rural Diabetes Coalition, at 502-266-6084.
