The Diabetes Association, Inc. (DAI) was selected as one of three finalists statewide for the 2008 Programs of Excellence Award from the Diabetes Coalition of Massachusetts (DCOM) at their statewide meeting held on May 2, 2008 at the Doubletree Hotel in Westborough, MA. Development Coordinator Amber F. Vlangas presented the Fall River Fitness Challenge as a model program for the prevention of diabetes. The Programs of Excellence award is an opportunity to showcase innovative programs and collaborative models in the education, prevention and treatment of diabetes. The DCOM is a statewide alliance designed to be a catalyst and advocate for diabetes education, prevention, diagnosis, and management in all populations in the Commonwealth. The Fall River Fitness Challenge is a city-wide fitness and weight loss project that has involved more than 1,000 between January 9th and May 10th, 2008. More than a third of the participants with diabetes reported that they were able to better control their symptoms or reduce their medication because of the Challenge. People without diabetes greatly reduced their risk for acquiring Type 2 diabetes by losing at least five percent of their body weight and by getting more than twenty minutes of vigorous exercise at least three times a week.  For more info on the project, contact Amber Vlangas at the Diabetes Association at 508-672-5671.
 

(Top row, left ) Healthy City Fall River coordinator David Weed joined Diabetes Association Development Coordinator Amber F. Vlangas in accepting the Award for Excellence along with representatives of two other programs and the Student Project of Excellence award winner. (Top row, center) Amber then presented an overview of the Fall River Fitness Challenge to the participants in the DCOM annual meeting. (Middle row, right) Massachusetts Department of Public Health staff member Maria Evora-Rosa and Amber were joined by Diabetes Advocate Virginia Senna-Davis of the Diabetes Association at the conference. (Bottom row, right) Massachusetts Department of Public Health staff member Valerie Jackson and Maria listen as Amber responds to a question from the audience.