OUR strategic passion

Empowering
Juvenile Diabetics and their Families

The Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation founder, Wendy Novak was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes at the age of seven. Type 1 diabetes (T1D) once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone needed to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy. T1D impacts not only the physical well-being of a patient but also their social and emotional health. The individuals that struggle with this disease need outstanding clinical care, education, and research.

Through the visionary leadership of Center Director, Dr. Kupper Wintergerst and the support of Norton Healthcare, the Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation is focused on building a world-class diabetes center in Louisville, KY to help more children and their families manage the disease with excellence so that they can live long, healthy lives. Currently ranked 18th by US News and World Report, the programs and services of the Wendy Novak Diabetes Center, will build confidence in families touched by T1D, empowering them to live long, healthy, active lives and providing them with hope for a future without diabetes through health outcomes research.

Our strategic partners the Novak Center for Children’s Health and Camp Hendon are leading the way in world-class support for those that are living with TID, along with the unique programming and art access lead by Fund for the Arts.

 

Did You Know? 

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30.3 million people

have some type of diabetes (9.4% of the U.S. population) including 7.2 million people (23.8%) who are undiagnosed.

Type 1 diabetes accounts for 5% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes.

1.94 billion

Total children population 0-14 with type 2 diabetes.

96,000

Number of newly diagnosed children with type 1 diabetes per year.

586,000

Number of children with type 1 diabetes in 2020. 

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1 in 3 adults

could have diabetes by 2050, as projected by The CDC.

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S., accounting for around $245 billion in medical costs and lost productivity each year.

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Kentucky ranked 8th

in diabetes rates in the U.S. (13.7%). All of the top 10 were in the south (West Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Louisiana and Oklahoma).

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Warning signs of type 1 diabetes often appear suddenly and may include:

  • Drowsiness or lethargy

  • Extreme thirst

  • Frequent urination

  • Fruity odor on the breath

  • Increased appetite

  • Heavy or labored breathing

  • Sudden weight loss

  • Sudden vision changes

  • Sugar in the urine

  • Stupor or unconsciousness

SOURCES:

https://www.diabeteseducator.org/news/aade-blog/aade-blog-details/karen-kemmis-pt-dpt-ms-cde-faade/2017/07/26/the-2017-national-diabetes-statistics-report-is-here
https://www.statista.com/statistics/241818/key-facts-on-children-and-type-1-diabetes-worldwide/2017
https://stateofobesity.org/diabetes/2016
https://professional.diabetes.org/sites/professional.diabetes.org/files/media/fast_facts_8-2017_pro_3.pdf
http://www.jdrf.org/about/what-is-t1d/facts/