Published: January 07, 2009 10:53 pm      

Big names top Super Conference agenda

from staff reports



A former Miss America and U.S. Surgeon General will speak at the 2008 Diabetes Super Conference to be held in Jackson Jan. 17.

The conference is stacked with talks led by the nation’s most renowned diabetes experts.

With a larger venue and even bigger names on the Super Conference speaker’s ballot this year, organizers encourage people to register now with the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi..

The conference is expected to sell out according to Mary Fortune, Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi executive vice president.

“Each year, we proudly sponsor this conference, because we believe in providing Mississippians and their families with the essential knowledge to tackle diabetes proactively, while also giving them the tools to learn more about type 1 and type 2 diabetes care,” Fortune said.

This year’s conference, “New Insights into Diabetes Care and Prevention,” will feature speakers: Ann Albright, PhD, RD, director of the Division of Diabetes Translation for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Chef Luis Bruno, executive chef at the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion; James R. Gavin, III, MD, PhD, past president of Morehouse School of Medicine and the American Diabetes Association; and Nicole Johnson, MA, MPH, Miss America 1999, host of dLife TV and author of four books.

Other speakers rounding out the day of informative sessions are Stephen Ponder, MD, FAAP, CDE, pediatric endocrinologist at Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas; Joe Solowiejczyk, RN, MSW, CDE, internationally acclaimed family therapist; and Ed Thompson, MD, MPH, Mississippi state health officer.

The conference will address topics of interest to both those with type 1 and type 2 diabetes – children and adults alike, and this annual patient-education meeting will feature presentations for parents and family members, health-care practitioners and individuals living with diabetes or taking care of someone with diabetes.

There also will be representatives from medical and pharmaceutical companies present with the latest diabetes-management products and giveaways.

Of all of the exciting advancements in diabetes technology and care, perhaps, one of the most highly anticipated new products on the shelf is Animas’ OneTouch Ping, an insulin pump about the size of a cell phone that connects wirelessly to a meter-remote. The meter-remote can “ping” the insulin pump with a person’s insulin dose calculations and even tell the pump to deliver it. In other words, this meter not only tests blood glucose, but also controls pump functions, according to the Animas Corporation Web site.

“The Super Conference will bring some of the nation’s foremost diabetes experts to Jackson for a day of informative sessions and opportunities to interact with these individuals,” Fortune said. “Last year’s Super Conference was not only sold out but also had a waiting list, so we encourage everyone to register early to guarantee a spot into the one conference that you do not want to miss.”

The cost to attend the event is $30 for one or $10 for children under the age of 12. Registration begins at 7 a.m., with the conference beginning at 8:15 a.m. and ending at 3 p.m.



BOX



REGISTER



What: Diabetes Super Conference



When: Jan. 17



Where: Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, Jackson



To register: Call 1-877-DFM-CURE or visit the Web site www.msdiabetes.org.