American Diabetes Association to Offer Free Health Screenings and Resources for New Yorkers Living With Diabetes at Jacob Javits Center

New York, NY, March 30, 2016 (Newswire.com) -  The American Diabetes Association of Greater New York proudly announces the 2016 EXPO will take place April 30, 2016. For the third year in a row, Healthfirst – a not-for-profit health insurance company serving close to 1.2 million New Yorkers – will be the presenting sponsor and bring local experts to the event for cooking demonstrations, exercise tips and access to multilingual diabetes experts. The free community event will be held in the North Wing of the Jacob Javits Convention Center from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., and begin with a kick-off featuring special guests including entertainment and media personalities. 

“Approximately 1.6 million people in New York are living with diabetes, making it one of the most important and impactful health issues in our area,” said Susan Beane, M.D., Vice President and Medical Director, Healthfirst and co-chair of the 2016 EXPO. “We are proud to continue our three-year sponsorship with the American Diabetes Association for the 2016 EXPO and provide valuable resources and information to advance patients’ understanding about how to better manage the disease.” 

"Approximately 1.6 million people in New York are living with diabetes, making it one of the most important and impactful health issues in our area."

Susan Beane, M.D., Vice President and Medical Director, Healthfirst

In addition to complimentary health screenings, the EXPO will offer healthy cooking demonstrations from celebrity and local chefs, exercise tips from fitness experts, access to health care providers, multilingual presentations regarding diabetes prevention, as well as a family-fun zone, a senior zone, multicultural community areas, a living-with-type 1 area and a diabetes-goes-digital area. More than 80 prominent corporate exhibitors will be featured. For free registration, visit www.diabetes.org/newyorkexpo.  

American Diabetes Association Market Director of the Greater New York Region Kristine Magnifico said, “We once again welcome Healthfirst’s sponsorship and support in joining the movement to Stop Diabetes in the most populous and diverse market in the U.S. Healthfirst’s members are greatly impacted by diabetes, so we’re pleased the company is so committed  to these communities by increasing diabetes awareness, education, management and prevention, especially among high risk populations.”

More than 14,000 attendees are expected from the Greater New York region, attracting both families affected by diabetes, as well as those interested in learning how to live healthier, active lifestyles, and change the future of diabetes.

2016 EXPO sponsors include: Presenting sponsor Healthfirst, and supporting sponsors:  Sanofi, Novo Nordisk, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, MetroPlus, EDCURE.ORG, Visionworks, Merck, BD, Equal, Walgreens/DuaneReade, Regeneron, Univision 41 Nueva York , Unimas Nueva York and ABC Channel 7.

Diabetes affects more than 29.1 million children and adults in the United States, and more than 1.6 million in New York. An additional 86 million have prediabetes and by year 2050, if current trends continue, 1 in 3 adults will be diagnosed with diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is more prevalent in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, and are considered higher risk populations. (Source of Statistics: June 2014 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) 

Make sure you join the movement and visit the American Diabetes Association EXPO, presented by Healthfirst, to learn how to live healthy, be more active and help change the future of diabetes.

About the American Diabetes Association
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. Information from both these sources is available in Spanish as well as English.

About Healthfirst®
Healthfirst is a not-for-profit health insurance company sponsored by some of the most prestigious hospitals and healthcare systems in New York. It serves almost 1.2 million members in New York City and in Long Island through government-sponsored programs including Child Health Plus, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and Managed Long Term Care (Senior Health Partners), as well as through private health plans including Healthfirst Leaf and Qualified Health Plans, offered on NY State of Health, The Official Health Plan Marketplace. It now offers The Essential Plan, lower-cost health plan options for qualifying individuals. For the second year in a row, Healthfirst is a 4-Star Medicare Advantage plan and has 5 Stars for quality on the NY State of Health, The Official Health Plan Marketplace.

For more information on Healthfirst, visit www.healthfirst.org.

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Contact: 
Doreen Pustizzi
American Diabetes Association
(732) 469-7979, ext. 3517
[email protected]

Bill McCann
Healthfirst
212-801-1657
[email protected]