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EVENT UPDATE: NBA Great to promote healthy living on campus

By September 9, 2015Uncategorized
NBA Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins will be on the Delta State quad from noon to 2 p.m. Sept. 10 for “Healthy Living: It's a SLAM DUNK.”

The Delta State University Robert E. Smith School of Nursing and the Healthy Lifestyle Center will host the “Healthy Living: It’s a SLAM DUNK” event Sept 10 sponsored by Novo Nordisk on the Delta State quadrangle, as originally planned, from noon to 2 p.m.

NBA great and Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins will share personal stories and advice on how people can better manage their diabetes with three key components: a balanced diet, regular exercise and proper medication.

The Robert E. Smith School of Nursing and the HLC appreciate the opportunity to partner with Novo Nordisk, a leading diabetes care company, to bring this event to the Mississippi Delta.

Mississippi’s prevalence rate for diabetes is 12.7 percent compared to the national prevalence rate of 9.7 percent. Even more alarming is the increased number of people with pre-diabetes in America. In 2012, the number of people with pre-diabetes was 86 million compared to 79 million in 2010.

Delta Healthy Families Project Director Shelby Polk said, “We can prevent diabetes through the promotion of healthy lifestyles and people with diabetes can live healthy lives with good blood sugar control. Healthy living is the key for both prevention and control.”

Healthcare providers from HLC and nursing faculty and students will provide health screenings at the event. Fun-filled activities and educational materials to emphasize the importance of healthy living will be available. Wilkins will also be available to sign autographs during the event.

Vicki Bingham, chair of academic programs, invites everyone from Delta State, Cleveland and the surrounding communities to attend the event.

“We are excited to bring this event to DSU and the Mississippi Delta,” Bingham said.

For additional information about the event, or to arrange to bring groups of 30 or more people, emailhlc@deltastate.edu. Media wishing to coordinate coverage of the event can contact Jennifer Farish, director of Communications and Marketing, at jfarish@deltastate.edu or 662-846-4676.

The Delta State University Robert E. Smith School of Nursing gratefully acknowledges that all programs, services, and resources provided by the Delta Healthy Families Project are made possible through funding from HRSA Grant #D60RH25756 awarded to Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi by the Office of Rural Health Policy Delta State Rural Development Network Grant Program (DELTA). The opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of HRSA or Delta State University.

Dominque and Nursing

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