Living With A Killer: Diabetes in Rural Appalachia
Whitesburg, KY, 2002
Diabetes, recognized as a national health problem, has a higher incidence in rural Appalachia than in the rest of the country. Patients' reluctance to seek medical treatment when symptoms appear exacerbates the severity of the disease. Cultural factors tied to family and community traditions contribute to this problem.
WMMT and the Kentucky Diabetes Network hope to motivate individuals to access appropriate health care services by using local voices and stories unique to Appalachian culture in storytelling, story circles and interviews. Increasing awareness and knowledge of the prevention and treatment of the disease within the community and among those directly affected with diabetes will help families, friends and community members better support the needs of diabetes patients.
WMMT is developing a series of twelve 30-minute radio programs to increase listeners' awareness and knowledge of prevention and treatment of the disease. The radio series will help patients better manage their conditions and deal with fears and misconceptions, at the same time empowering them to make informed decisions and better communicate with their care providers.
Although program content will be developed in conjunction with diabetes patients and their support networks, the series will be designed to engage the community as a whole to play a role in the treatment and prevention of diabetes. WMMT and the Kentucky Diabetes Network will also engage existing groups of diabetes patients and health care providers in evaluating the success of the programming. By doing this, the organizations hope to extend the reach of the radio series to new listeners and assure the series provides content that will stimulate problem solving and decision-making by patients, their families and support groups throughout the region.
Contact Information
Living With A Killer: Diabetes in Rural Appalachia
Cheryl Marshall, Station Manager
Tel:606-633-0108
Kentucky Diabetes Network
Greg Lawther, President
Tel:502-564-7996
Tel:
Awards:
WMMT Round Three
Living With a Killer
$4087 for the design and operation of a diabetes education website
—Appalshop Endowment Fund