Alexandria, VA (Jan. 18, 2012) – The American Diabetes Association, the nation’s largest voluntary health organization leading the fight to Stop Diabetes®, is pleased to announce that Henry Rodriguez, MD, clinical director of the USF Diabetes Center in Tampa, FL, has been named to its Board of Directors.

Dr. Rodriguez is Professor of Pediatrics at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine at the University of South Florida. He is leading the expansion of the USF Diabetes Center’s clinical and educational programs and initiatives in clinical and translational research. Dr. Rodriguez has been a local lead investigator on one national and two international multi-center trials investigating the causes of type 1 diabetes and a pilot trial to investigate selective immunosuppresion in individuals with new-onset type 1 diabetes.

Dr. Henry Rodriguez

As a member of its Board, Dr. Rodriguez is responsible for assisting with oversight of the Association’s business affairs. Additionally, he will work closely with the Association’s volunteers and staff on activities and initiatives in support of the organization’s mission during his tenure.

Dr. Rodriguez has been a supporter of the American Diabetes Association on both the local and national levels for 12 years. Locally, he has been a member of the Diabetes Camp medical staff committee in Indiana. Nationally, he has served as a member of the Scientific Sessions Planning Committee and the Research Grant Review Committee as well as Chair of the Pediatric Diabetes Interest Group. He has also been an active member of the Association’s effort to develop timely and pertinent guidelines to assist the transition of care for the adolescent and young adult with diabetes from the pediatric to the adult diabetes care provider.

Dr. Rodriguez holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., and earned his MD from Albany Medical College in Albany, N.Y. He received his pediatrics training at the University of Miami and his endocrine training at the University of California, San Francisco.

Diabetes is a serious disease that affects the body’s ability to produce or respond properly to insulin, a hormone that allows blood glucose to enter the cells of the body and be used for energy. Recent estimates project that as many as 1 in 3 American adults will have diabetes by 2050, unless we take steps to Stop Diabetes.

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The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org.

Kids coached by athletes who share their daily challenges of living with type 1 diabetes

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The kids who attended the first annual Sam Fuld USF Diabetes Center Sports Camp this weekend got more than a chance to catch fly balls, practice a tennis swing or hone hoop skills.   Throughout the day the youngsters heard positive messages from the camp coaches, all of whom share their daily challenges of living with type 1 diabetes.

Perhaps none more reassuring than the one emphasized by the  athlete who helped organize the camp, Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Sam Fuld.

“I’m a little nervous,” Fuld quipped. ” There’s a lot of kids watching me out here.”

“There used to be a stigma attached to having diabetes and being involved in competitive sports, but the medications and therapies available today (to help control blood sugar) are so much better,” said Fuld, who checks his blood sugar throughout the day, including two to three times during games, and gives himself several insulin shots daily. “There’s no reason for diabetes to hold you back in any shape or form.”

More than 100 campers, young athletes with type 1 diabetes invited to bring along  a friend or sibling without diabetes, participated in several sports during the camp, which was held in the USF Athletic District.

Paige Tepper, 10, of Largo, selected baseball-softball, tennis and cheerleading as her sports sessions. Her brother Aidan, 9, who does not have diabetes, joined Paige in the morning for the baseball drills before heading for the soccer field and basketball court.

“I’m glad he came, because he looks out for me,” said Paige, who sported sneakers with pink shoelaces and, like many young campers, wore an insulin pump. “It’s good to have that support.”

Camper Paige Tepper, 10, of Largo, practices her tennis swing.

Athletes, like Fuld and King, who have succeeded at high-level competition while managing their type 1 diabetes provide inspirational role models for the campers, whether they’re interested in sports competitively or for recreation and exercise, said Dr. Henry Rodriguez, medical director of the USF Diabetes Center.

“If these kids want to play baseball, or soccer, or basketball, we want to empower them to do that,” Dr. Rodriguez said.  “Physical activity can help lower blood sugar and improve one’s sense of well being. While balancing activity and blood sugar control can be a challenge for athletes with type 1 diabetes, with proper management they can achieve just about everything.”

Dr. Rodriguez and the staff of the USF Diabetes Center provided medical supervision for the campers, supported by nurses from the Tampa Bay area and counselors from Florida Diabetes camps.   Plenty of granola bars, peanut butter crackers and juice packs were on hand to help campers maintain normal glucose levels.

Dr. Henry Rodriguez (left), medical director of the USF Diabetes Center, says athletes like Fuld who successfully cope with diabetes and compete at a high level, are inspirational role models.

As each new group of campers arrived for the baseball drills, Fuld gathered them together in the dugout for an informal chat. The conversation ranged from his experiences growing up with diabetes to questions about playing professional baseball.

Does he ever get dizzy out on the field?   Fortunately, he’s never had to come out of a game, Fuld said. “If my blood sugar feels low, I pop a few pieces of gum… As an emergency measure, if I need more, I always keep a granola or protein bar in my back pocket.”

How many bats does he have?  “Plenty of extras” in case one breaks.

Fuld encouraged the campers not to be self-conscious about having type 1 diabetes. “I’ve never met anyone who didn’t like me because I was diabetic… so talk to your teammates about it.”

The USF Diabetes Center staff was on hand to provide assistance with blood draws or shots, if needed.

The genesis for the diabetes sports camp originated with Fuld’s tour last August of the newly opened USF Diabetes Center, where he met with young patients and learned about the facility’s family-centered programs and leading-edge research.

“The camp gives kids the chance to learn how to deal with being a diabetic athlete and to gain inspiration from peers and coaches,” Fuld said. “I’m excited about making it an annual tradition in the Tampa Bay area.”

Type 1 diabetes, most commonly diagnosed in children and young adults, occurs when the immune system destroys insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. People with type 1 diabetes produce no insulin and must use insulin injections daily to control their blood sugar.

For more information about the USF Diabetes Center, visit http://diabetes.health.usf.edu/

Story by Anne DeLotto Baier, video by Amy Mariani and photos by Eric Younghans, USF Health Communications.