DeTar Healthcare System Highlights Diabetes Awareness Month and the Impact of Diabetes in the Crossroads
11/6/2025
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, and DeTar Healthcare System is joining organizations across the country to raise awareness about the impact of diabetes — a chronic disease affecting millions of Americans and a significant portion of residents right here in the Crossroads area.
According to U.S. News, 10.6% of adults in the U.S. live with diabetes. Victoria County sits above the national average with a 12.4%, meaning more than one in ten residents are being affected by type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
DeTar’s new inpatient diabetes educator, Leslie Kubecka, R.N., is leading efforts to help patients manage the disease and live healthier lives. “My goal is to provide patients with the survival skills they need before leaving the hospital,” Kubecka said. “That includes understanding how to monitor blood sugars, use insulin correctly, take medications safely, and make lifestyle changes that help keep their condition under control.”
Over the past few decades, diabetes technology has advanced significantly, making management easier and more effective. “Today, patients can use insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) that track blood sugar levels in real time and even send alerts when they’re too high or too low,” Kubecka said. “These tools can be monitored through smartphone apps and help reduce the need for multiple finger sticks.”
DeTar Healthcare System provides both inpatient and outpatient diabetes education to ensure continuity of care and ongoing support. “We want every patient to leave here not only with the knowledge to manage diabetes but also with access to resources that help them thrive,” Kubecka said.
Prevention remains key. One in three adults in the U.S. is prediabetic — but with early intervention, lifestyle changes, and regular screenings, progression to Type 2 diabetes can often be delayed or prevented.
Risk factors include being over age 45, a family history of diabetes, high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, or belonging to a higher-risk ethnic group such as Hispanic, Latino, Black, Asian American, or Native American. DeTar encourages community members with these risk factors to talk to their healthcare provider about diabetes screening.
“Simple steps like exercising 30 minutes a day, maintaining a healthy diet, and limiting processed foods and carbohydrates can make a big difference,” Kubecka added.
DeTar Healthcare System remains committed to improving community health through education, prevention and compassionate care for patients living with diabetes and other chronic conditions.
To find a primary care physician, please visit mydetardoctor.com.
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