Rural Health, Inc. Launches “Banking on a Healthier Future” Campaign for National Diabetes Month

(A Partnership with Banks in Johnson, Massac, and Union Counties)

(Southern Illinois) – Diabetes is a serious chronic disease that poses a significant health problem for anyone at any age. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, roughly 38 million Americans are living with the disease. While there isn’t a cure yet for diabetes, knowing how to prevent and manage it can prevent serious long-term complications for those that have it.

November is National Diabetes Month. This year, Rural Health, Inc. (RHI) is partnering with financial institutions in Illinois to raise awareness about diabetes prevention, encourage healthy lifestyle and food choices, and help people access preventative healthcare through its “Banking on a Healthier Future” Campaign.

During the month of November, customers of banks in Johnson, Massac, and Union Counties will have access to free diabetes information when they visit the following locations:

• In Johnson County: Banterra Bank in Vienna, Legence Bank in Vienna, and Southern Trust Bank in Goreville and Vienna.
• In Massac County: Banterra Bank in Metropolis, City National Bank, both locations, in Metropolis, and Legence Bank in Metropolis.
• In Union County: Anna Jonesboro National Bank in Anna and Jonesboro, Anna State Bank, a division of Alliance Bank in Anna, Farmers State Bank in Alto Pass, First State Bank in Dongola, and Southern Bank in Anna.

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. But there’s also good news: Taking charge of your health may help you prevent diabetes health problems. Left unmanaged, diabetes can lead to heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, dental disease, lower extremity amputations (not related to injuries) and some types of cancer. Diabetes and its complications occur among all age, racial, and ethnic groups.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reports that approximately 1.3 million Illinois adults (12.5% of the population) have diabetes, but roughly 341,000 of those don’t know they have the disease. It is estimated that 84 million Americans have prediabetes, of which 3.6 million live in Illinois. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death nationally and in Illinois.

To learn more about diabetes prevention and awareness, visit niddk.nih.gov, illinois.gov, or call Rural Health, Inc. at 618-833-4471 to schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider.

Rural Health, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization designated by the federal government as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) with locations in Johnson, Massac, and Union counties in Illinois providing quality medical, dental, mental health, and pharmacy services to all patients in need of healthcare while being committed to the overall health and well-being of the underserved. Medicaid, Medicare, and most insurance carriers are accepted.

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