Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 5, 1 May 1993 — Diabetes conference set for May 19-21 [ARTICLE]

Diabetes conference set for May 19-21

The second annual International conference on Diabetes and Native Peoples will be held May 19-21, in Honolulu, at the Ala Moana Hotel. Diabetes has become a serious problem for native peoples throughout North America, the Pacific Basin, and Australia. Because of the severity of the problem, and the enormous cost of medical services, heahh care providers are always looking for innovative, culturally sensitive approaches to the treatment and prevention of the disease. The three-day event will provide refresher courses for heahh care workers about the latest cross-cultural innovations in the treatment of diabetes. Speakers from all over North America will make presentations on a variety of topics ranging from diabetes among native Hawaiians, to aleohol and its relation to the disease. Workshops will attempt to address specific problems and types of treatment and panel discussions will bring issues into an open forum. The first day of the conference will feature mostly lectures, including a presentation from Wai'anae Diet director Dr. Terry Shintani, and Moloka'i physieian Emmett Aluli. OHA trustee Kamaki Kanahele will moderate the opening ceremonies and OHA chairman Clayton Hee will present a welcoming address at a poolside reception later on in the day. Dr. Kekuni Blaisdell will speak at a luneheon the second

day whieh will feature nearly 30 workshops. The workshops will be an hour 16ng and seven will be held eaeh hour. Panel discussions will dominate the last day's activities with closing ceremonies carried out by trustee Kanahele. Early registration for the event will be May 18 at 4 p.m. Registration will be at 7:30 for the first day's event and 8 a.m. for the remaining two days. There will be a fitness walk and hula classes the second and third mornings at 7 a.m. Sponsors include the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, Native American Research and Training Center (Arizona), Indian Health Service, Medical Services Branch, Health and Welfare Canada, Assembly of First Nations (Canada), American Diabetes Association-Hawai'i Affiliate, and the Pacific Rehabilitation Research and Training Center. Continuing education credit will be offered for physicians, nurses, and pharmacists. An $85 registration fee is required, whieh covers the cost of two lunches, a reception, and continuing education units. For further information write or eall: Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, 86-260 Farrington Highway, Wai'anae, Hawai'i 96792-3199, (808) 696-7081; (Mainland) Dr. Robert Young, NARTC, 1642 E. Helen St., Tucson, Arizona 85719, (602) 621-5560.