SPEAKING FROM THE HEART   OFFERS FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT ON
CARDIAC DISEASE AND DIABETES AT FEB 4 MEETING

January 16, 2008 (NORWELL, MA) – Donna Carty, RN, will literally be speaking from the heart when she addresses the next Norwell VNA Diabetes Support Group on Monday, February 4, 2008. A Type 2 Diabetic herself, Carty suffered a heart attack in 2002. Her experiences facing the challenges of cardiac disease and diabetes will be shared at the group’s meeting from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. at the South Shore Baptist Church, 578 Main Street, Hingham. Oen free to the public, new attendees are welcome to attend.

“Many diabetics are at risk to develop high blood pressure or high cholesterol, which can lead to heart disease,” said Lori Mahoney, Group Facilitator and Certified Diabetes Educator with the Norwell VNA. “Through managing one’s diabetes a person can greatly reduce their risk of developing heart disease and potentially suffering from a heart attack.”

Carty has completed the Women’s Heart Science & Leadership Symposium at the Mayo Clinic and gives presentations to clinics and the public on the importance of heart health for diabetics. Mahoney says her ability to speak first hand about the challenges the group’s participants may face makes her an invaluable resource.

“This will be an extremely informative session and we hope to educate our attendees on steps they can take to reduce their risk.”

This meeting is open to the public at no cost and supported by the Friends of the Norwell VNA. Light refreshments will be provided. There is plenty of free, handicapped accessible parking. For more information about the Diabetes Support Group or the Norwell VNA, please visit the website at www.nvna.org or call Lori Mahoney at 781-659-2342.

The Norwell Visiting Nurse Association, located in Norwell and serving the South Shore, provides nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, nutritional counseling, home health aides/homemakers and a variety of support services and programs to patients of all ages and for all needs. The Norwell VNA has been serving the community since 1920 providing services to residents in Norwell, Scituate, Abington, Braintree, Cohasset, Duxbury, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Hingham, Holbrook, Hull, Kingston, Marshfield, Pembroke, Quincy, Rockland, Weymouth and Whitman. For more information about the Norwell VNA and its services, please visit the web site at www.nvna.org or call 781-659-2342.