Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes and Premature Birth Focus of National Nutrition Conference Hosted by Colorado State
Note to Editors: Media representatives are invited to attend the annual Lillian Fountain Smith Conference June 13-14 at the University Park Holiday Inn in Fort Collins, Colo. To arrange interviews or attendance, contact Dell Rae Moellenberg at (970) 491-6009.
In the last 10 years the number of diagnosed type 2 diabetes cases in the United States has increased by more than a third. New research in prevention and management of type 2 diabetes, along with maternal and child health care, will be the focus of a leading national nutrition conference hosted by Colorado State University.
The 24th annual Lillian Fountain Smith Conference will be held 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. June 13-14 at the University Park Holiday Inn in Fort Collins. Featured sessions will include research on a primary diabetes prevention trial, the emerging problem of type 2 diabetes in children and a unique research program studying the role of DHA-Omega 3 in preventing premature infant birth – a critical problem in Colorado.
"The Smith conference for nutrition educators has become one of the premier conferences in the country for those interested in nutrition education," said Patricia Kendall, an organizer of the event and Colorado State University Cooperative Extension food science and human nutrition specialist. "Our goal is to bring together researchers and practitioners to discuss important and emerging issues in nutrition and health so that research influences practice and practice informs research."
Dr. Richard Hammon, co-director of the Rocky Mountain Prevention Center, will open the conference with a presentation of the Diabetes Prevention Program Trial, a four-year clinical trial among individuals with impaired glucose tolerance. The trial has shown that even modest changes in diet and exercise could reduce the risk of developing diabetes by more than half.
Two nationally-known diabetes educators, Marion Franz and Helena Rizor, will provide information about prioritizing nutrition messages and meal planning methods for individual needs.
The second day of the conference will focus on maternal and child health issues. Mary Harris, associate professor of food science and human nutrition, will present information concerning a study at Colorado State looking at the role of Omega 3 fatty acids in preventing premature infant birth. Harris is one of the lead investigators on the $1.2 million U.S. Department of Agriculture study. Preterm birth is the most common cause of low infant birth weight and infant mortality.
The conference is specifically designed for physicians, nurses, physician assistants, dieticians, nutritionists and other health educators. Participants are provided with the most current, objective and authoritative information available in important and emerging areas of human nutrition.
The annual Lillian Fountain Smith Conference is sponsored by the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition in the College of Applied Human Sciences at Colorado State.
To attend the conference, contact Pam Blue at 970-491-7435 or e-mail blue@cahs.colostate.edu . More information and a complete schedule are available at http://www.cahs.colostate.edu/fshn.