Good Habits for Good Health
Godfrey Johnson of Horry County, South Carolina, has seen first hand the effects of diabetes: His mother has battled the disease for many years. So, when the pastor at his church announced that SharedCare, a non-profit health care agency, was providing free health screenings, Godfrey went, hoping to learn something that would help him take care of his mother. What he learned there changed his life.
Ty Grissett, a nurse working with SharedCare, tested Godfrey’s blood sugar. Concerned, she pulled him aside and informed him that while he was there to learn how to care for his mother, he also needed to care for himself. Tests showed that Godfrey, too, was diabetic.
“Diabetes is a real issue in Horry County. Most people either don’t know they have it, or they don’t know what to do about it,” explains Ty. “At SharedCare, we teach individuals how to correctly test their blood sugar and change their eating habits. That way, they can become healthier people.”
SharedCare services are made possible through a Johnson & Johnson Community Health Care Program grant and participation from community leaders, health and social service professionals and rural churches. SharedCare’s efforts are aimed at the Cedar Branch community, where cardiovascular disease was the second leading cause of death in Horry County in 2004. More than 8 percent of adults in the county have diabetes. According to data from the most recent Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, 35 percent of county residents have high cholesterol, and 22 percent have sedentary lifestyles.
Before he visited SharedCare, Godfrey’s own life was unknowingly becoming a dire statistic. After speaking with Ty, Godfrey began to participate in SharedCare activities, including health education sessions, exercise activities and access to health care services. Each activity is designed to prevent and control obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
“I initially went to the free program to help somebody else, but I ended up helping myself too,” says Godfrey. “Now, I’m walking pretty much daily. I’ve lowered my blood sugar, have a healthier lifestyle, and I’ve even lost weight.”
The program has been expanded to include children, teaching them about the importance of healthy living. “Parents in the county were worried about their kids because a lot of them were overweight and had asthma and other complications because of their weight. We knew we had to do something for them,” says Ty. “By including the kids, the program becomes a full circle. The kids bring the information they learn back to mom and dad so that they can lead healthier lives, too.”
Godfrey, who is a deacon in his church, says he believes he should lead by example and get other people in the community involved in the program. “I want my kids and friends to see me going to the doctor so that they know it’s important to take care of yourself. SharedCare helped me learn how to do that. The program probably saved my life.”
Learn More:
2009 Contributions Report On-Line
SharedCare
Johnson & Johnson Community Health Care Program
