What is diabetes?Type 1 diabetes generally appears in childhood and is genetic.
Type 2 diabetes typically is brought on by lifestyle, mainly from being overweight.
Diabetics have increased risks of heart disease, strokes, eye problems, kidney disease, poor circulation and amputations.
"My message is wake up, get tested and take it seriously, saidOU President David Boren.
Borenhas lost more than 50 pounds in recent months in an effort to control his Type II diabetes, which he said he ignored for years leading to a serious medical crisis.
In early August, he had a rare diabetic reaction to an injection aimed at relieving back pain from herniated discs and degenerated vertebrae. He was rushed from a vacation inNew MexicotoOU Medical Center, where he was hooked to an insulin IV.
Borenrecovered from the attack and went on to have successful back surgery.
But he used the six-week recovery to make changes for a healthy lifestyle: eating right, moderate exercise and close monitoring of his blood sugar.
Borengave up fried foods and sweets for a balanced diet low in starches and sugar. Still recovering, he walks daily and has begun exercising on a stationary bike.
He plans to lose another 12 pounds and hopes his improved health means he someday can forgo his daily diabetic medication.
"The doctors say I'll live 10 years longer than I would have otherwise,Borensaid. "I feel like I was granted an early warning.
The close call has ledBorento increase awareness about efforts to makeOklahomaa leading national center for diabetes research and treatment.
Research and treatmentBorenhas talked toGov. Brad Henryand hopes to meet with city and tribal leaders about coordinating the university's research, education and clinical care programs into anOklahoma Diabetes Center.
Borensaid about $50 million would build and staff a center where patients from acrossOklahomacould get treatment and information, and researchers could conduct clinical tests and apply their findings.
Additional clinics could open inTulsa- whereBorensaid seed money already has been pledged - and elsewhere in the state.
Oklahomahas one of the nation's highest diabetes rates, in part because of the high numbers of American Indians in its population.
More than 200,000 adults inOklahomahave diabetes, including about 22,600 American Indians - about 11 percent of the total, according to the state Health Department. Another 100,000 may be undiagnosed.
"It's an epidemic, partly because of lifestyle issues but also because of our vulnerable populations, saidDr. Timothy Lyons, a diabetes expert who joined OU's College of Medicine in 1992.
He said diabetes costs Oklahomans nearly $2 billion a year in medical expenses.
SinceLyonsjoined the university,OU Health Sciences Centerhas been awarded 25 diabetes-related grants worth about $50 million. His research staff has grown from 12 to 60 people.
Federal aid consideredU.S. Rep. Dan Boren, the OU president's son, said he's seeking federal funding to boost diabetes prevention and treatment inOklahoma.
Dan Borensaid his district in EasternOklahomais plagued by diabetes among Indians.
"If you are a Native American inOklahomayou are (up to) three times more likely to get diabetes, he said.
