By Al Benson
The Cosmopolitan Club of Aurora donated $1,200 to support the Diabetes Educational Center at Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora, which empowers patients to effectively manage diabetes.
At the Club’s July membership meeting at Oak Street Restaurant in North Aurora, Cosmopolitan Club president Russ George presented a grant check to Donna Carter, program coordinator, Rush-Copley outpatient diabetes center and an Aurora Cosmo member from Big Rock. She was accompanied by Alex Pope, vice president, Rush-Copley Foundation; and Jennifer Perry, Rush-Copley director of emergency services and cardiovascular operations.
Carter said the Cosmos’ grant will assist at least eight recently-diagnosed under-insured diabetic patients to learn to control their blood sugars. As an example, she recounted the story of a recently-diagnosed patient.
According to Carter, “A female with gestational diabetes was referred to the diabetes center early in her pregnancy after her A1c jumped to over 13%. I met with her and spent time discussing ways to manage her blood sugars during her pregnancy.
“She was motivated to do what was needed to protect her baby. She was admitted to the Hospital and I was able to teach her to draw up and inject her insulin. After meeting with our dietitian she learned about healthy eating and was very good at it!
“After what seemed like a long pregnancy she delivered a beautiful, healthy, baby. She was very grateful for the care and education she received,” Carter said.
The Rush grant was Aurora Cosmos’ second this year. In May, the Club donated $2,500 to support the Kovler Diabetes Center at University of Chicago.
Future Cosmo events include:
• Tuesday, Aug. 3, National Night Out information table, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Washington Park, Aurora
• Saturday, Aug. 7: third annual “Race to Fight Diabetes” awareness night, 6 p.m., Sycamore Speedway, Route 64, Maple Park. Door prizes and 50-50 cash raffle. Tickets are $15 each
• Thursday, Sept. 23: Second annual drive-thru barbecue, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Aurora Advent Christian Church, 905 N. Edgelawn Drive.
• November: Date to be announced, “Make a Goal to Fight Diabetes,” Chicago Steel hockey game, Fox Valley Ice Arena, Geneva.
Founded in 1927, Cosmopolitan Club of Aurora is known as the club that fights diabetes. In 1973, the Cosmos decided to start a campaign against diabetes. Today the nonprofit promotes awareness of diabetes and raises funds for diabetes research at University of Chicago’s Kovler Diabetes Center, ADA educational Summer Camps for type 1 diabetic children, diabetes education at Rush Copley Medical Center Diabetes Educational Center, and helps provide diabetic alert dogs.
The Club meets at 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at Oak Street Restaurant, 945 Oak Street in North Aurora. New members are welcome. Call 630-966-0657, send E-mail to cosmoaurorail@gmail.com, or visit auroracosmo.org for more information.