A Day of Hope for Diabetes

16th Annual Jim Cook Day Of Hope For Diabetes

It’s the largest educational — and inspirational —event of its kind in the western United States. The annual Jim Cook Day of Hope for Diabetes — now in its 16th year — offers the Coachella Valley community a wealth of information on the latest research and resources for managing diabetes. This year’s event takes place on Saturday,March 12, 2011, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Annenberg Center for Health Sciences at Eisenhower.

The public is invited to this free event, which is sponsored by Eisenhower Medical Center and the Desert Diabetes Club. Registration begins at 7 a.m., and no reservations are required. The day includes a full roster of presentations from diabetes experts on such topics as nutrition, exercise, new medications, wound care management, eye care, dental health, foot care, hypoglycemia and more, as well as a product fair showcasing the latest technology and treatments for people with diabetes.

A highlight of the day is the keynote presentation by Denise Faustman, MD, PhD, Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Immunobiology Laboratory at the renowned Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Dr. Faustman has worked in the field of autoimmunity for more than 15 years and has spoken at previous Day of Hope events where she has shared important diabetes research findings. In 2001, her lab permanently reversed type 1 diabetes in mice with end stage disease, a project that is now being translated into human clinical trials. In this year’s presentation, Dr. Faustman will provide an inside look at this groundbreaking research.

In addition, free screenings of the heart, eyes and feet will be available to Desert Diabetes Club members. Designed to educate Valley residents about diabetes, the Club meets monthly from October through May at the Annenberg Center for Health Sciences at Eisenhower.