This year, in an effort to bring understanding about diabetes to campus, a group of students has created the first Diabetes Awareness Club at Ithaca College

According to the American Diabetes Association, 23.6 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes. Sophomore Jessica Polizzi, founder and president of the club, said many college students are unaware that diabetes is a growing disease throughout the country and a prevalent problem among the college-age population. Because of this, Polizzi and five other students created the club in an effort to raise funds and understanding about the several types of diabetes.

Polizzi said while she does not have diabetes herself, she decided to start the club because diabetes runs in her family. She said the disease is very close to her and she would like to help educate the college community about it.

“Our goal is to inform people about diabetes and do what we can to help students here with this disease,” Polizzi said. “We really want to spread awareness — let people know how others are being affected.”

Polizzi said she wants the club to be different from other clubs on campus. She said she wants to involve all of the members and bring together everyone’s ideas to further the goals of the club.

“I know there are a lot of clubs that tell you what they’re going to do, and you just sign up on a sheet and help out, but we really want to get everyone involved,” she said.

Senior and vice president of DAC Alicia Harper is personally affected by diabetes. She said she wants the club to make a difference in people’s lives.

“We really want to make a statement,” she said. “[People] could have it, and they’re walking around with symptoms, and we really just want them to recognize that they could be affected by this.”

The club plans to host several different events for the spring semester. One event is an anti-bake sale, where the club will sell baked goods that are low in sugar, so people can enjoy the food without worrying about their sugar levels. Polizzi said funds raised during events like this will eventually be donated to the ADA or other diabetes organizations in the Ithaca area that support diabetes research.

They also want to post facts about diabetes in several locations around campus to increase general knowledge about the disease. The club plans to table around campus during the upcoming semesters to strengthen its numbers.

Polizzi said one of the group’s biggest goals is to implement major changes in the dining halls on campus. They would like to increase selection in available foods for diabetics. Polizzi said too much food in the dining halls, from yogurt to bread, can negatively affect diabetics’ health.

“This is a big problem,” Polizzi said. “There is so much sugar in the simplest things in the dining halls. Maybe we can change that for people and make their lives a lot easier.”

Harper said she has struggled trying to find foods she can eat at the dining halls on campus, especially because a lot of the food is not properly labeled.

“I always try to guess what’s in it, so most of the time I’ll just cook in my room,” she said.

Because she is an RA in freshman housing, she has to deal with dorm kitchens that are too small. Not being able to eat in the dining hall all the time is a big inconvenience, she said.    

Harper said changes in the dining hall would be better for everyone because all people, diabetic or not, can benefit from a healthy, diabetic diet.

Freshman Shaun Nisani has been affected Type 1, or insulin dependent, diabetes, a chronic disease usually diagnosed in children or young adults, for the past 15 years. As a biochemistry major, he said he eventually wants to do research for Type 1 diabetes and immunology and joining this club would help him pursue that goal.

“I’ve gathered a lot of information over that time, so just help spreading that information would be good,” he said.

Harper said one of her main concerns is educating people about the truth of diabetes and expelling the myths about those who are affected by the disease.

“I want people to understand that we are exactly like every other person on campus,” she said. “We can do everything. We don’t have any limitations.”

Polizzi said the club is trying to find out exactly how many diabetics are on campus so the club can create ways to make the campus better for them.

“We need to cater to the students here that have this disease,” she said. “Not enough people’s voices are being heard, and that’s what we’re here for.”