Senator Booker to Join Diabetes Foundation’s May 5 Virtual Event

HACKENSACK, NJ – April 28, 2021 – The Diabetes Foundation, New Jersey’s premier not-for-profit organization that empowers individuals living with diabetes, announced today that Senator Cory Booker will deliver introductory remarks as part of the kick-off event for the Foundation’s Diabetes Care Month on May 5 at 12 Noon, entitled Diabetes During a Pandemic. The event will speak to the importance of prevention and early diagnosis, as well as how to navigate health as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and assimilate back into life that will become our new normal. All events are free and open to the public, and those interested in attending any or all of the events can register at https://diabetesfoundationinc.org/caremonth/.

Senator Cory Booker is an American politician, attorney, and author who has served as the junior United States Senator from New Jersey since 2013, and is the first African-American U.S. Senator from the Garden State. He previously served as Mayor of the City of Newark, NJ, from 2006-2013. Booker sits on the Judiciary Committee, the Foreign Relations Committee, the Environment and Public Works Committee, and the Small Business Committee.

The event will also feature Dr. Mihail Zilbermint, an Assistant Professor at the Johns Hopkins Schools on Medicine. He is the Chair of Department of Medicine, Chief and Director of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, MD. He established an Inpatient Diabetes Management Service at Suburban Hospital and helped save the hospital hundreds of thousands of dollars by reducing the length of stay of patients with diabetes. His specialized diabetes team won the Johns Hopkins’ Innovations in Clinical Care Award in 2017.

This event is part of a four-part Diabetes Care Month virtual event series hosted by the Diabetes Foundation throughout the month of May. The series will discuss major diabetes headlines through the lens of a world emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, while also concentrating on what proper diabetes management looks like and tips on how to live a healthy life.

Topics and dates for Diabetes Care Month include:

• May 5, 2021 - 12 p.m. – Diabetes During a Pandemic – prevention and early diagnosis, as well as how to navigate health as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and assimilate back into life that will become our new normal.
• May 12, 2021 - 5 p.m. – Key Steps to Diabetes Success – Knowing the standards of care and how to follow them is your number one defense against complications from diabetes. Join our experts and learn the steps to take to ensure your well-being.
• May 19, 2021 - 5 p.m. – Diabetes Myths Versus Reality – You can live your individual lifestyle and still effectively manage your diabetes! Join our community leaders as they dispel some common myths and discuss the reality of living with diabetes.
• May 26, 2021 - 5 p.m. – Finding Affordable Diabetes Care – Diabetes is a complex condition and finding affordable care can be overwhelming. Learn how to navigate the maze of community resources to identify which ones are right for you.

Sponsors for Diabetes Care Month currently include BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), M&T Bank, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, Ascensia Diabetes Care, George Link Charitable Trust, BioReference Laboratories, ADCES, S. Rubenstein Family Foundation, Nannette Empey Bryan Foundation, and Newbridge Medical Center. The Diabetes Foundation is still actively seeking sponsors for Diabetes Care Month. Interested parties can contact Pamela Weber-Leaf at pweber-leaf@diabetesfoundationinc.org or call (201) 444-0337.

While the COVID-19 pandemic will subside and some level of normal life will return, the diabetes epidemic, which can cause dangerous health complications for New Jerseyans from Bergen County to Cape May, will inevitably continue. With 10% of the state’s residents living with diabetes, and an additional 36% projected to have prediabetes and be at risk of developing the condition within 3-5 years, support is urgent and necessary. The value of proper diabetes self-care is undisputed, but barriers to acquire and implement these tools make self-care unattainable for many. The Diabetes Foundation’s Diabetes Care Month will bring together government and community leaders, healthcare partners and diabetes experts, who are dedicated to breaking down these barriers.

“Whether it’s Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, or prediabetes, the right education, healthcare team and healthy lifestyle plan can make all the difference,” says Ginine Cilenti, Executive Director of the Diabetes Foundation. “Our organization hopes this series of events can appeal to anyone throughout the State of New Jersey living with, at risk for, or interested in learning more about diabetes.

Inquiries regarding Diabetes Care Month programming should be directed to Ben Martin of EFK PR, at ben.martin@efkgroup.com. Any questions about direct diabetes support or care should can be answered directly by the Diabetes Foundation at info@diabetesfoundationinc.org or by calling (201) 444-0337.