VP Rotary Club hears from recent guests

By: HEATHER BOGARD
Lifestyles Editor

May 24, Meeting
Rotarian David Mayeux invited Renee Brown with the Smoked Meat Festival to address the May 24, meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club. She gave an update on the progress of this year’s festival and noted that for the first time, a carnival for the children will be set up on the grounds from Wednesday, June 22 through Saturday, June 25. Brown said that for the opening ceremony of the 24th annual festival, veterans from across this state in a motorbike club will be in attendance to form an honor guard. She said a queen’s scholarship program will be set up as a thank you for the young lady doing a good job of representing the festival and the veterans during their reign. Brown said the festival will be a fun, family event with many fun things happening. She noted there is a wonderful musical line up ready to entertain the crowds, including Friday night headliner Charley Rivers and Saturday night headliner Category 6; and judges are ready to taste the many entries expected in the food competition. Brown thanked the Ville Platte Lions Club for their wonderful support and volunteer efforts to help put on the festival each year. As a thank you, the Lions Club receives a share of the proceeds from the event. She also thanked the community for the great support over the years and said she is open to suggestions on how to improve the festival.
May 31, Meeting
Rotarian John Mayeux addressed his fellow club members during the May 31, meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club about his struggles of living with Type I Diabetes. He said he was first diagnosed 35 years ago after visiting the emergency room when he was sick. As a result, his life changed significantly and it took several days to get his symptoms under control after going to the emergency room where he was diagnosed.
Diabetes, Mayeux stated, is caused by improper function of the pancreas. He noted that with Type I, the patient must take insulin to help regulate their blood glucose levels. Insulin allows food to be better absorbed by the body’s cells. Mayeux said that with Type II, most patients can regulate their symptoms with diet and exercise. He noted that Type I can never turn into Type II, however, Type II can become Type I if the patient does not take care of themselves. Type II can also be reversible if properly managed.
Mayeux stressed that Type I patients need to have medicine, a meter to check their levels and food at all times in order to monitor and manage their blood sugar levels. He also said it is dangerous for a person with Type I Diabetes to live on their own, as waking up in the morning with low blood sugar can be very dangerous and possibly fatal. To help control his Diabetes, Mayeux is very regimented and careful with what he eats. He said you have to live a disciplined life and learn to listen to your body. He started using the insulin pump 15 years ago after years of taking multiple injections every day. He said that with the pump, he continuously receives insulin to help regulate his blood sugar and does not have as many low blood sugar readings.
During the meeting, Rotary President Mitch Fontenot announced that the date for the installation banquet has been changed from June 14 to June 21.