HELP A DIABETIC CHILD APPOINTS DR. ASJAD KHAN TO ITS BOARD

HELP A DIABETIC CHILD APPOINTS PROMINENT PEDIATRIC

ENDOCRINOLOGIST DR. ASJAD KHAN TO ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Help A Diabetic Child (HADC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting local children and families who are dealing with diabetes, today announced the addition of prominent pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Asjad Khan to its Board of Directors.

Dr. Khan has been caring for pediatric diabetes patients locally since 2007 when he provided key guidance in establishing the Pediatric Endocrinology program at Golisano Children’s Hospital. He continues to work with his colleagues at the hospital to provide comprehensive medical care for children with diabetes as well as all endocrine disorders.

Dr. Khan completed medical school at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, N.Y. followed by a residency in pediatrics at Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, N.Y. where he served as Chief Resident. He remained at Winthrop University Hospital where he completed a fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology. Later, he helped establish the Pediatric Endocrinology program at New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y.

“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Khan to our Board,” said Tami Balavage, HADC President and Co-founder. “He brings a wealth of expertise in the endocrine community, and his passion for our mission will undoubtedly strengthen our efforts. His dedication to improving the lives of those with diabetes aligns seamlessly with our goals.”

Help A Diabetic Child supports underserved children and young adults in Southwest Florida who have Type 1 diabetes and cannot afford life-saving insulin, diabetes medical supplies and medical services. Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin to naturally regulate the body’s blood sugar, leaving diagnosed individuals with a life-long dependency on costly medical insulin.

Help A Diabetic Child was founded in Naples in 2010 by Balavage after her 16-year-old son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. It quickly became evident that there was a significant number of children who were unable to get adequate medical supplies for blood glucose testing and insulin injections, which must be done multiple times daily.

Recently, the organization opened the HADC Resource & Advocacy Center. Located at 2800 Davis Blvd., Suite 107 in Naples, this center offers a variety of essential services, including Emotional Support Services; Nutritional Support Services; Information on Patient Assistance Programs; Information on Pharmacy and Health Insurance Resources; Volunteer Programs for high school and college students; On-site HADC Staff; Community Outreach Programs, Presentations and Support; and Educational Resources and Materials. These services are currently available by appointment.

As the new center develops into a full-functioning community resource, HADC is setting up a campaign to request donations specifically for office supply needs, including funds for computers, furniture and supplies. For additional information or to support HADC’s mission of providing life-saving supplies and services, visit www.helpadiabeticchild.org.

Statistics show that the number of Americans being diagnosed with diabetes continues to rise at alarming rates. The American Diabetes Association reports that almost 10 percent of the population has diabetes, while another 8 million are undiagnosed. In addition, the ADA reports that 86 million Americans over the age of 20 years have pre-diabetes.

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a nearly 30 percent increase in Type 1 diabetes diagnoses in the United States, with youth cases growing most sharply among diverse populations.

Diagnosed cases of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are surging among youth in the United States. From 2001 to 2017, the number of people under age 20 living with Type 1 diabetes rose 45 percent and the number living with Type 2 diabetes grew by 95 percent.