MONTROSE – Diabetes is a serious illness in this area, and well above the national average. That reason alone was enough to inspire registered nurse Sandy Emerson to work past her retirement to yet again organize the annual diabetes clinic in Montrose in Nov. 21.

Several doctors urged Emerson to head up the clinic, even though she retired last year after 45 years of nursing, and working as a diabetes educator and counselor, for the Montrose County health department.

“We have a huge Hispanic population, a huge senior population and a huge Indian population,” she said – three groups, she added, with high incidences of diabetes.

The resulting “diabetes extravaganza” will be held Nov. 21 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Montrose Health and Human Services, 1845 S. Townsend Ave.

Dr. Carol Greenlee, a Grand Junction endorinologist, will speak at 9 a.m. on adult diabetes and at 10 a.m. on juvenile diabetes; speaking after Greenlee will be Dr. Bradley Huhta, a Montrose cardiologist, who will talk about healthy hearts for diabetics.

Presentations will also be given on exercise and health and nutrition and healthy eating.

Snacks will be served at the clinic, which will also offer free foot and retinal screening, Emerson said, with lots of information on ways to prevent diabetes through proper diet and exercise.

The retinal screens are possible because the equipment was donated to Medical Missions of Montrose, Emerson said, but appointments are filling up fast. Anyone who wants a retinal screening during the diabetes event can call Emerson at 970/209-6113.

“The problem is not just here, it’s all over,” Emerson said. “More and more people are becoming diabetics because of the way they eat. With the economy, it’s easier to buy a big thing of pasta and cheese and leave out the vegetables.”

Emerson said she has had diabetes for more than five years, but is able to control it by counting her carbohydrate intake. She has Type 2 diabetes; the more serious Type 1 requires insulin regulation.

“Type 1 diabetes is insulin dependent and can be very expensive,” she said. “The cost of pumps for insulin is really, really high, but we have forms you can use to apply for a hardship or discount.”

The event is for the whole family, Emerson said, and is free for everyone. Dentists and chiropractors will also be on hand as well as home health agencies, she said, so people can learn where to get the information they need.

The diabetes extravaganza is sponsored by the Montrose Diabetes Coalition, which Emerson helped form several years ago, and Community One, she said.

Although Emerson headed up the project, she got a lot of help from her core committee members, she said, including Liz Holcomb, Christie Baldwin, Jennifer Smith, Jeannie Rice and Wanda Foolman.

Screenings will not be conducted like normal checkups, but will all be diabetes-related, she said.

“Diabetes is the middle of the wheel, and the heart, skin, lungs, teeth are spokes,” she said. “They are all affected and we’ve got to keep them together to keep the wheel going.”

Simultaneous translation into Spanish will be included in the program Emerson said, with headphones provided.

Delta Memorial Hospital is also helping put on the clinic, Emerson said, and another clinic is planned for Delta in February, followed by a walk for diabetes this spring in conjunction with the American Diabetic Association.

The event will continue to be put on annually, Emerson said, and she’ll stay involved. Emerson helped conduct a study in 2007 that demonstrated the extremely high number of diabetics in this area, she said, but prevention is the best cure.

“I very strongly believe in this, and I don’t think you can have too much education,” she said.