How ironic that we are closing out November, which is American Diabetes Month, with a holiday celebrated by overeating and inactivity. Why care? According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), if current trends continue, one in three Americans - and one in two minorities - born in 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime. In the United States, nearly 24 million children and adults have diabetes and 57 million have pre-diabetes. Early diagnosis and treatment of pregnant moms is an important key in addressing this epidemic. In fact, it's a passion for physicians and researchers like David A Sacks, MD, OB/gyn specialist and Director of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, at Kaiser Permanente's Bellflower Medical Center.
Dr. Sacks has dedicated 33 years of taking care of Kaiser Permanente patients and children with diabetes. For his years of extensive research in diabetes and quality of treatment, Dr. Sacks was recognized by the ADA for his work in the field of diabetes and pregnancy. He is the recipient of the 2008 Norbert Freinkel Lectureship. This lectureship is given annually to one American and one non-American, and is named in memory of Dr Norbert Freinkel for his extensive scientific contributions and untiring commitment to improving the health of pregnant women who have diabetes and their children.
"It is quite an honor because it means I follow in the footsteps of pioneers such as Dr. Freinkel, an international expert whose work reduced the infant mortality rate in the babies of diabetic women," said Dr. Sacks. Sacks expressed appreciation for joining the ranks of past honorees, such as his mentor Dr. Jorge H. Mestman of USC and Dr. John B. O'Sullivan, respected for his research of early diabetes.
Sacks plans to retire at the end of 2008 but not give up his fight against diabetes. He notes that according to the ADA, since 1987 the death rate due to diabetes has increased by 45 percent. Diabetes and its serious complications include heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and amputations. "I plan to join Kaiser Permanente's research team and continue to work 3 days a week," said Sacks. His retirement will also give him time to go out on the speaker circuit - he is already booked to speak at a Navajo Reservation located in Colorado in June 2009. Dr. Sacks is also co-authoring a book about diabetes and pregnancy with a release date in 2010.
Kaiser Permanente is America's leading integrated health plan. Founded in 1945, it is a nonprofit, group practice prepayment program with Southern California headquarters in Pasadena, California. Kaiser Permanente serves the health care needs of 3.2 million members in Southern California. Today it encompasses the nonprofit Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and their subsidiaries, and the for-profit Southern California Permanente Medical Group. Kaiser Permanente's Southern California Region includes nearly 56,000 technical, administrative and clerical employees and caregivers, and more than 6,400 physicians representing all specialties. More information about Kaiser Permanente can be found at kaiserpermanente.
Kaiser Permanente