By Kate Callahan, DrPH MPH, DHEC Chronic Disease Epidemiologist

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control was well represented at the 21^st Annual Fall Diabetes Symposium in North Charleston on September 17 and 18. Staff from the Division of Chronic Disease Epidemiology contributed six of the 13 scientific posters at the symposium, and their graduate assistants were awarded first and second place in the poster competition for their impressive diabetes research.

Dana AlHasan received 1^st place for her research that examined how the presence of different food outlets, such as fast food restaurants, contributed to the risk of diabetes.

Andrew Fogner and Charity Breneman received 2^nd place for their research that evaluated trends of hospitalization rates for diabetes among individuals with additional comorbidities.

Other research that was displayed by the Chronic Disease Epidemiology staff addressed the burden of pre-diabetes among adults in South Carolina, the burden of diabetes among children in South Carolina, the impact of neighborhood-level characteristics on emergency department use among patients with diabetes, and the association between parent diabetes status and the health behaviors and outcomes of their children.

The Annual Fall Diabetes Symposium is an important, local venue that provides updates and trends in diabetes care, research, and burden that are needed to drive relevant care and research that makes an impact on diabetes in South Carolina. The Division of Chronic Disease Epidemiology staff were honored to be given the opportunity to contribute such a large amount of diabetes research to the symposium.