Our Inaugural Annual Report

On behalf of the entire leadership team at Kovler, we are honored to share our inaugural Annual Report. 

The report includes:

• The latest information regarding the global pandemic of diabetes and the rise in cases of type 1, type 2 and other genetic forms of diabetes locally, regionally and nationally.
• A reflection on the accomplishments, challenges and priorities of the Kovler Diabetes Center and the entire University of Chicago Medicine diabetes enterprise.
• Examples and highlights from Kovler’s five main pillars… We Care, We Discover, We Educate, We Unite, and We Lead.

Much of the work that the Kovler Diabetes Center has accomplished, and continues to pursue, could not happen without the generous contributions and support from our partnering individuals and organizations. While we look back and celebrate the successes of 2012, we also look forward to continuing our mission in 2013 and beyond.

We wish you and your loved ones a happy and healthy holiday season!

Meet Kirsten: A Kovler Extern

My name is Kirsten Gindler and I am in my second year at the University of Chicago.

Over the past several years, I have become passionate about the ways in which nutrition and lifestyle choices impact the health of communities and individuals. This has motivated my educational objectives as a public policy student, but also my enthusiasm for the work that the Kovler Diabetes Center is doing in the diabetes community, a vast and diverse group of people whose members include loved ones such as my childhood best friend and several of my relatives.

I do not have diabetes, so when I started at Kovler, one of my first objectives was to learn as much as I could about the disease that we work so hard to treat, prevent, and cure. Here are a few of the things that I learned:

• Diabetes is one of the fastest growing chronic diseases in the world, and it affects 8.3% of the U.S. population.
• Diabetes accounts for almost $200 billion in medical costs per year in the U.S. This includes direct costs, as well as indirect costs such as disability and work loss.
• While diabetes may cause many complications, these risks can be minimized by proper care and treatment.
• Healthy lifestyle choices, such as weight loss, physical activity, and good nutrition, cause significant reductions in the development of type 2 diabetes. These interventions are significantly more cost-effective than medications!

Attentive, comprehensive care and community education are essential to the health and success of the diabetes community! At Kovler, our approach combines the excellence of our physicians and nurses, the innovation of our educational programming, and the century-long tradition of our research to provide the highest level of diabetes care from infancy through adulthood.

I am so proud to support this mission as a member of the Kovler team!

To learn more, please take a moment to read over the 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet: National estimates and general information on diabetes and prediabetes in the United States, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Making Healthy Choices at the Taste of Chicago

This was my second year on the Humana Healthier Choices panel for the Taste of Chicago and it is always a thrill to take part–I have grown up attending the Taste and it is an honor to help in any small way.

The panel of four healthcare professionals were asked to review a list of foods submitted by various Taste of Chicago vendors to be included as a “Healthier Choice.”

In order to obtain the Humana Healthier Choice logo for the Taste, the items must to meet the following requirements:

Meals/Entrees
:

Less than 500 calories (25% Daily Value)
Less than 4 grams saturated fat (20% DV)
Less than 480 mg sodium (20% DV)

Appetizers/Snacks/Dessert:

Less than 250 calories
Less than 2 grams saturated fat
Less than 240 mg of sodium

Here is a complete list of the foods we selected: Healthier Choices Guide

The most important thing for Taste of Chicago attendees to remember is that the foods that are chosen certainly are healthier choices, but it is the cumulative amount consumed throughout their day at the that contributes to overall health.

Some tips for making healthy choices at the Taste of Chicago:

• Stick to 500-600 calories per meal
• Limit the caloric beverages
• Stick to Taste portions (and possibly share that with family and friends) to get the most bang for your calorie intake
• Take advantage of the surrounding area during the Taste–walk along the lakefront or through Millennium Park and Lurie Gardens to get more physical activity to burn some of the calories consumed at the Taste
• Eat smaller meals surrounding your visit to the Taste to reduce your overall calories for the day
• Enjoy more of the fresh fruits and vegetables when you arrive to fill up on lower calorie foods
• Be sure to visit the non-food vendors at the Taste — there is always something interesting showcasing Chicago

Have a fun (and healthy) weekend at the Taste of Chicago!

Amy Hess-Fischl
Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator
The University of Chicago Kovler Diabetes Center

Kovler Joins The Fight to Lower Obesity in Chicago

The soaring rate of childhood obesity is extremely alarming.  For the first time ever, a child’s life expectancy is actually less than their parents due to the medical conditions that can accompany obesity.  According to the CDC, approximately 12.5 million children and adolescents in the U.S. are obese. What is more startling is that pre-teen and teen obesity rates in Illinois actually exceed U.S. levels.  As a dietitian and diabetes educator, I have seen firsthand how prevalent childhood obesity is in Chicago.

Kovler is committed to helping not only our patients but our community to become healthier.  We are proud to be involved with the local organization CLOCC (Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children).  They have been instrumental in promoting change in Chicago to lower the rates of childhood obesity.

I recently had the pleasure of attending the CLOCC quarterly meeting last month.  It was such a great experience to be surrounded by so many people that are passionate about reversing this epidemic in Chicago.  Additionally, I was able to learn more about the projects that are currently being led by CLOCC; their 5-4-3-2-1 Go! healthy lifestyle message is a great way to encourage  families to eat healthier and become more active.  They have also partnered with teachers and Chicago Department of Public Health to influence our schools and our city environment.

There is no doubt that the factors contributing to obesity are complex, but working together on a local level will get us closer to finding solutions that work.  We are excited to be involved with this amazing organization to promote healthy changes in our community.

Julia Socke, RD, LDN, CDE
Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator and Outreach Coordinator

Love Your Loved Ones, Love Yourself

Today we celebrate Valentine’s Day…a holiday that embraces and promotes love, traditionally marked by chocolates, flowers, greeting cards and champagne.  And while the reason to recognize February 14 has certainly morphed from its original purpose established back in 496 AD, it can nonetheless be a very pleasant and cheerful holiday for most.

But Valentine’s Day has the potential to be more than just a “Hallmark Holiday.”  Why not use the occasion of expressing our love for other people to show love for yourself?  I found a couple of online resources that can help you make healthy choices…not only on February 14, but throughout the year!

If you click here, you can learn more about the CDC’s recommendations for a healthy Valentine’s Day, along with some other really great resources.

Medical News Today also explains why, if you’re going to indulge in any chocolate for the holiday, dark chocolate is the way to go.

So whether or not you have a special someone with whom to celebrate this holiday, please take the opportunity to take care of your own health!

Amy Hess-Fischl
Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator, Program Coordinator of InTransit Program
The University of Chicago Kovler Diabetes Center

Please visit our newly enhanced website for additional resources on managing your diabetes and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.