Local Impact - Oklahoma

Terry Williams

Black Hawk Health Center

Terry Williams is a thirty-nine year old father of three. Terry was diagnosed with diabetes December 2010. His A1C was 10, his blood pressure was dangerously high and he was overweight. Due to his love for his family, determination and commitment, and the services provided by the Black Hawk Health Center through the Special Diabetes Program he turned his life around. Within one year, he lost 137 pounds, reduced his A1C to 5.3 and lowered his blood pressure to the point where he is no longer on medication. Terry is enjoying his healthier status and now is able to once again be more active and do the activities he enjoys (i.e volunteering with Stroud Athletics where all three of his children are enrolled in school).

Diabetes in Oklahoma

According to 2008 CDC data, approximately 276,000 people in Oklahoma – 9.6% of the state’s population – had diagnosed diabetes, and many of them suffer from serious complications or conditions. In addition to the human toll diabetes places on people in Oklahoma, the financial burden diabetes places on the health system in the state is staggering – in 2007, the direct and indirect cost of diabetes in Oklahoma was approximately $1.87 billion.

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