NCDHHS fireside chat to focus on diabetes

RALEIGH — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall on Monday, Nov. 14, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss diabetes prevention and management, the impacts of COVID-19 for people with diabetes and the importance of protection from the virus.

This event is part of North Carolina’s recognition of National Diabetes Awareness Month and American Indian Heritage Month.

One in 3 adults in North Carolina are prediabetic and 1 in 8 are diagnosed with diabetes annually. Even worse, rates of diabetes among American Indians are three times greater, as compared to other groups.

The risks of severe illness and COVID-19-related hospitalization continue to be greater among people who are not up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, as well as those with preexisting health conditions, including diabetes.

The fireside chat and tele-town hall topics will include the following:

• diabetes, prevention, management and impacts of COVID-19
• COVID-19 vaccines, updated boosters for everyone ages 5 and older, testing and treatment
• protection against the flu, RSV and other respiratory diseases

As the winter months approach and people spend more time gathering indoors with friends and family, it is important for everyone to stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, get their flu shot and take precautions to protect themselves and vulnerable loved ones.

Event participants include:

• Susan Kansagra, MD, MBA, North Carolina State Health Officer and NCDHHS Assistant Secretary for Public Health
• Ronny A. Bell, PhD, MEd, professor of social sciences and health policy at the Wake Forest School of Medicine and associate director of community outreach and engagement and director of the Office of Cancer Health Equity at the Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Joanne Rinker, Board Certified-Advanced Diabetes Manager with MannKind Corp.

The fireside chat will stream live from the NCDHHS social media accounts, where viewers can submit questions. The event also includes a tele-town hall, which invites people by phone to listen in and submit questions. People can also dial into the event by calling (855) 756-7520 Ext. 89501#.

NCDHHS fireside chats and tele-town halls are part of the state’s ongoing public efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, ensure equitable access to timely information, resources and COVID-19 vaccines and eliminate health disparities.

The NCDHHS social media platforms will host the livestream on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Visit the channel of your choice to watch the event, which will begin streaming at 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14.