Students, faculty and staff from across Temple, as well as representatives from several health organizations, area hospitals and the American Diabetes Association attended Philadelphia’s first-ever recognition of World Diabetes Day at the School of Podiatric Medicine on Nov. 14. Members of the community were offered free flu vaccines and health screenings, as well as several educational workshops on topics such as exercise and nutrition.

Patti LaBelle’s Boom Boom Choir, featured on NBC’s “Clash of the Choirs,” kicked off the day’s events, followed by a reading of a mayoral proclamation recognizing Nov. 14 as World Diabetes Day in the City of Philadelphia by Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey.

According to the American Diabetes Association, 23.6 million children and adults in the United States, or 7.8 percent of the population, have the disease. While more than 17.9 million cases have been diagnosed, the association estimates that an additional 5.7 million are unaware that they have the disease.

“In Philadelphia, the rates of new diabetic cases are 2 percent higher than the national average,” said Kathya Zinszer, DPM, director for community outreach at the podiatry school. “That reflects a need for us to bring more awareness and education about the disease.”

World Diabetes Day is an international campaign started in 1991 and led by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in response to the alarming rise in diabetes around the world.

Zinszer has been leading the charge in Philadelphia, working with officials all over the city to raise awareness of diabetes.

In addition to having the mayor’s office officially cite Nov. 14 as World Diabetes Day, Zinszer was also the driving force in having several prominent Philadelphia landmarks like the Cira Center, Liberty 1 and 2 and Boathouse Row lit up in blue, the color for diabetes awareness, for the week before the event.

“Over the past few years, I’ve seen many patients who could have benefitted from proactive treatment — with the proper education, they would never have had to come see me for limb salvage and care,” said Zinszer.

“Education can be a great tool against the devastating effects of diabetes,” she added. “I think that a collaborative effort between all healthcare providers for treatment and patient education is an important first step.”

The event was co-hosted by the American Diabetes Association and Health Partners, and sponsored by CCS Medical, Independence Blue Cross, Hanger Labs, Johnson & Johnson and Advanced Biohealing.