FCS joined forces as a part of the Diabetes Coalition team to plan develop and initiate and implement Diabetes Expo, held at the extension office. With the local hospital Saint Joseph not bringing back the annual diabetes expo, Nancy Hiner co-chair of Diabetes Coalition and community partner from the Lexington Health Department reached out to FCS to see about hosting at the extension office. Planning meeting where held throughout the year up til April and logistics were ironed out with maximizing extension spaces and rooms, vendor set up, layout and program agenda. Prior to event, FCS agent had opportunity to advertise event at "Live from Chevy Chase" Fox 56 news media coverage and during the expo also received media coverage. In terms of inpact for this being the first annual diabetes expo, Diabetes expo was a community Health fair whose purpose is to provide a one stop shop for all of your diabetic needs, education and resources. 158 noted attendees present and signed in and pre-registered for the event.  

News coverage links: https://www.wtvq.com/lfchd-offers-free-diabetes-expo/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoF9wuq5GSA

The highlights of the Diabetes Expo SE are:

In a 3-hour period, we had 76 participants report At-Risk Assessment scores. This was our largest EVER Screening Event. Again, Dr. Fontaine Sands and her class of 8 Eastern Kentucky University 3^rd year Nursing students provided fantastic service by conducting all the A1C Diabetes Screenings. This allowed BLDP Project Manager, with the much needed, appreciated and competent help of an EKU Nursing student, to conduct Diabetic Retina (DR) imaging for 7 participants. Thankfully, all DR results came back as negative for Diabetic Retinopathy.

74 of 76 turned in At-Risk Assessments. 62 of the 74 (84%) participants had an average At-Risk Assessment of 5 or above. [ADA/CDC recommends discussing diabetes At-Risk Assessment scores of 5 or above with your doctor]

75 of 76 participants had A1C scores checked and had an average score of 6.8.

20 of the 75 (27%) participants had an A1C score of 5.6 or below.

[normal range is 5.6 or below]

25 of 75 (33%) participants had an average A1C score between 5.7 to 6.5 [prediabetes range is 5.7–6.5]

30 of 75 (40%) participants had an average A1C score above 6.5.

[diabetes range is above 6.5]

These results demonstrate that 73% of the participants had elevated scores.

61 of the 76 participants (82%) reported they had been previously diagnosed with prediabetes and/or diabetes. Again, the Diabetes Expo was designed for persons with diabetes.

All participants were counseled as to what an A1C score means and how to control/lower their scores. Numerous documents were provided to all participants at our Resource Table for handling their risk of diabetes. All participants were encouraged to join a Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) if they were diagnosed with prediabetes or if their A1C score was in the prediabetic range. All participants were encouraged to join a Diabetes Self-Management, Education and Support group (DSMES) if they were diagnosed with Diabetes or their A1C score was in the diabetes range.

We detected 1 (1%) participants that scored in the Prediabetes range and had not been previously diagnosed.

We did not detect any participants that scored in the Diabetes range and that had not been previously diagnosed.

We detected 20 (27%) previously diagnosed participants that scored well into the Diabetes range.

We will follow up with those with elevated A1C scores in ~30 days.

 (Stats generated from Pat Ryan, Lexington Lions Club Project Manager, 2023)

FCS work in multiple areas at event and from registration check in noted over 50% attendees of the diabetes expo were first time attendees to the extension office and expressed appreciation for receiving NEP calendar on first come first serve basis both provide some in english and some in spanish. Over 30% of the total attendees were Hispanic or minorities. 

FCS is hopeful that this will be an annual event that will continue to be held at the extension office.