PORT ANGELES — Peninsula College’s second-year nursing students are volunteering to offer diabetes education information and screening.
The students’ information table will be set up at different venues around the North Olympic Peninsula, said Bonnie Rathod, RN, of the Peninsula College nursing faculty, who is supervising the students.
The goals of their service project are to increase awareness of the diabetes risk factors, provide diabetes educational materials and promote local resources to Peninsula communities.
For all organizations
The students are offering their services to all organizations or businesses that are interested in having a diabetes information table at their site, Rathod said.
Diabetes is increasing, she said.
A 2010 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study projects that as many as 1 out of 3 adults in the United States could have diabetes by 2050 if current trends continue.
Good nutrition and physical exercise can help prevent and control diabetes, she added.
Untreated diabetes can cause heart disease, stroke, kidney and vision problems, as well as amputations.
“According to the 2012 Clallam County Community Health Status Assessment, as of last year, 18 percent of Clallam County residents had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes,” said Monette Drange, nursing student.
Added student Ray Borgen: “The National Diabetes Statistics Report estimates that nearly 28 percent of those with diabetes are undiagnosed, and the CDC reports that up to 33 percent of U.S. adults have prediabetes, but many are not aware of this condition.”
In addition to Drange and Borgen, other nursing students involved include Rachael Canavan and Kristin LaMoure.
The Peninsula College Nursing Club and other class members also can volunteer.
To have nursing students present information, email Rathod at brathod@pencol.edu.
The project is being funded in part by the Peninsula College Foundation.
To donate to similar student and public education projects, phone the foundation at 360-417-6400 or visit www.pencol.edu/foundation.
