Someone is diagnosed with diabetes about every twenty seconds in the U.S. If diabetes were contagious, it would certainly qualify as an epidemic. “There are about 1.8 million new cases of diabetes in the U.S. this year,” says Dr. Harley Schultz of Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley. Dr. Schultz is an Internal Medicine doctor whose practice focuses on diabetes. He heads the Diabetes Support Group of San Leandro, which meets regularly and is

Dr. Schultz says that about 25 per cent of people with diabetes don’t know they have the disease, which can lead to loss of vision or limbs, and other serious outcomes. He emphasizes the fact that type 2 diabetes can be prevented as can the serious outcomes the disease often brings.

Patient Janet Perez, 76, is aware of how her diet and lifestyle choices are key to avoiding the frightening results that many diabetes patients experience. Under Dr. Schultz’ care since she was diagnosed with diabetes more than ten years ago, Perez learned a lot about managing her diabetes.

“They have helped me tremendously,” says Perez of Dr. Schultz and his team. “I have lost forty pounds over the last two years and I am trying to watch my diet.” Perez is following the diet that diabetes educator Armida Trezza has developed for her. Much attention is given to the amount of food she eats - the recommended portion is about the size of one’s hand. Perez’s son also has diabetes, though he has lost about fifty pounds and is now down to a normal weight. Perez gives credit to the diabetic support group, for which she plays a coordinator role. Dr. Schultz joins the group’s meetings, which feature different health professionals who speak about their specialties and offer tips and recommendations to patients.

Perez is also a peer educator for Alameda County's Diabetes Program, a Dept. of Health organization. She says that she warns people she knows about their diet choices. Her warnings and the greater education effort will be needed as there are about 75 million people in the U.S. who are currently developing diabetes, according to Dr. Schultz. This pre-diabetic wave impact many lives in the near future, especially if people aren’t aware of the power of their daily choices.

Attendance to meetings of the Diabetes Support Group of San Leandro is free. The next meeting is Dec. 7 at 5:00 PM at Eden Medical’s San Leandro Surgery Center, 15035 E. 14th Street in San Leandro. For more information call, 510-351-1193.