Swindle’s plea caught the attention of Oprah’s producers, who brought the women’s auxiliary of Dayton’s Mt. Zion Church of God Holiness to Chicago on Jan. 12 to help educate 42 million viewers about the deadly disease.
The women will appear in the audience along with other diabetics and their families as part of the diabetes segment on Winfrey’s show at 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, on Channel 22. Experts will discuss the warning signs, risk factors, prevention, treatment and ways to reverse the illness.
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the way your body uses food and energy. The disease occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin (Type 1 diabetes) or the body fails to use insulin effectively (Type 2, the most common form).
Diabetes can lead to heart disease, blindness, amputations and kidney failure. It is the sixth-leading cause of death in the U.S.
According to the American Diabetes Association, 80 million Americans have diabetes or are on the verge of getting it.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half of all black women born after the year 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime.
According to the CDC, the U.S. spends $174 billion every year to combat diabetes, making it one of the most expensive health issues in the nation.
“If we don’t fix the problem of diabetes in this country, we will bankrupt our future ability to pay for health care in the nation — period,” said Dr. Mehmet Oz, one of the show’s panelists.
As part of Thursday’s show, Oprah will announce a special offer that will allow every American to get their blood tested for free.
About the Author
