Boxer Commends African American Churches For Work In The Fight Against Diabetes

Los Angeles, C.A.-At Holman United Methodist Church today, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) commended ministers of African American churches in the Los Angeles area for participating in Diabetes Sunday, a program operated under the American Diabetes Association's African American Program to raise awareness about the seriousness of diabetes.

"Diabetes is a significant cause of illness, disability and death in the United States. Diabetes has affected millions of Americans and, every year, costs our nation billions of dollars," Boxer stated. "I commend the African American churches who have participated in Diabetes Sunday. You have taken a giant step forward in educating your communities about this very serious and debilitating disease."

Because of the high incidence of diabetes in the African American community, the American Diabetes Association's African American Program and churches across the nation are sponsoring Diabetes Sunday to provide information to church congregations about diabetes and to discuss ways to reduce the risk of developing it. The goals of Diabetes Sunday are to increase awareness that diabetes is a serious disease; inform the congregation of diabetes risk factors, encourage testing; and inform the congregation about the resources available through the American Diabetes Association.

"We want to thank Senator Boxer for being proactive and progressive with respect to health disparities in the African American community," said William F. Rowel, Area Director of the American Diabetes Association. "The American Diabetes Association's African American Program strives to have every church in Los Angeles include diabetes education in their programs. It is incredibly encouraging that Senator Boxer and clergy leaders have agreed to participate in a truly worthwhile endeavor."

For more information about participating in Diabetes Sunday, contact William Rowel at the American Diabetes Association at (323) 966-2890, extension 7487. He can also be e-mailed at wrowel@diabetes.org.