Dr. Thaddeus John Bell founder of the award winning “Closing the Gap in Health Care” and Mr. Darrel Ravenel Jazz Artist and well renown musician on the local scene have combined their talents to present “Jazzing with Sugar” a health awareness program designed to improve the health literacy of African American men and at the same time have a good time listening to some world class jazz. The program will feature conversations held in the barbershop about Diabetes and the attitude that some Black men have about the disease.  

Diabetes is more prevalent in South Carolina than any state in the country and particularly in African American men.  This could possibly be due to the lack of health literacy about the disease which can lead to major health complications of “Sugar in the Blood” or diabetes.

The conference is the first of its kind in this area and is designed to improve the health literacy of African American men around issues of “Sugar in the Blood”. Dr. Bell will give brief health tips about diabetes that will be culturally sensitive, humorous and honest.

The program will be hosted by Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in North Charleston, South Carolina at 6pm on August 29, 2010. Trident Health System will sponsor the program. Jazzing with Sugar is free to the public but is for men only. Come out and have a great time listening to world class jazz and receive health information about “Sugar in the Blood.” I am Dr. Thaddeus John Bell closing the gap in health disparities for African Americans and the underserved.