Owensboro Health Healthpark will host its second annual Fun & Facts Expo on Thursday, offering free education, resources, and health screenings for families living with diabetes.
The event will be held at the Healthpark, 1006 Ford Avenue, and is open to the public.
The expo was created after members of Stronger Than One, the Healthpark’s Type 1 diabetes support group, said they needed more accessible information and resources, particularly in rural areas.
“Our support group is made up of kids, their parents, and other adults living with Type 1 diabetes,” said Jenny Young, RD, CDCES, one of the event’s organizers. “They kept saying they didn’t know where to go for help or what tools were available. So we built something to change that.”
The event, held in November during Diabetes Awareness Month, has nearly doubled in size since its debut last year. This year’s expo will feature 38 booths, expanded partnerships, and participation from all three area school systems. Vendors will showcase the latest diabetes technology, including insulin pumps, patch options, and inhaled insulin, which health officials said may be suitable for individuals hesitant to begin injections or pumps.
“There’s this perception that once you’re diagnosed, your life is going to be full of restrictions or complications,” said Shelby Shelby, RD, CDCES. “We’re here to flip that mindset. Diabetes is manageable — and in the case of Type 2 diabetes, can be preventable.”
Attendees can receive free A1C tests, which provide an average of blood sugar levels over the past three months. Resident physicians will review the results onsite, along with free blood pressure checks.
“We often see people who had no idea they were at risk,” Shelby said. “By catching those early signs, we can help them take action before complications set in.”
The expo will also include games, sugar-free drink tastings, and take-home kits for those who complete a “bingo card” of booth visits.
Organizers said the goal is to bridge gaps in access and information for people in rural communities.
“We know the data. People in rural communities have less access to insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors,” Young said. “They also tend to have higher A1Cs. That’s not okay with us. We want to fix it.”
Shelby added, “The expo is about empowering people with all types of diabetes.”
The Fun & Facts Expo is free and open to the public.
