There are 20.8 million people with diabetes in the United States, according to the American Diabetes Association, and Roy Fowle, of Pleasant Hills, is one of them.

Of that total, 6.2 million people don't even know they have it. Mr. Fowler, 67, was one of them, too.

About 17 years ago, when he was taking blood and urine tests for a life insurance policy, Mr. Fowler learned he had Type II diabetes, also known as adult-onset diabetes. He was surprised to hear the news.

	Rebecca Droke, Post-Gazette Susan DiVito demonstrates an insulin pump to Edward Bryner, of Charleroi, at the Jefferson Regional Medical Center on Thursday. The educational fair was open to the public so people could learn more about diabetes management. Click photo for larger image.

"I wasn't having any symptoms," he said.

Diabetes symptoms include frequent urination, excessive thirst or hunger, unusual weight loss, fatigue, irritability and blurry vision.

Mr. Fowler's condition was initially discovered by a home-health nurse who administered the urine test in Mr. Fowler's home. The diagnosis was confirmed shortly after that by his physician.

Mr. Fowler quickly learned a lot about nutrition and exercise and the role they would play in controlling his diabetes, along with medication. For the past 17 years, he's been successful at doing so, taking advantage of new medications and tools that have been developed.

"You just learn a different style of eating. You learn to get your medication under control and you learn to exercise. It's a combination of all of those things and you have to be fairly diligent," Mr. Fowler said.

He received information on advances from a diabetes fair at Jefferson Regional Medical Center last week.

The fair, part of American Diabetes Month, was held to give diabetic patients the chance to access up-to-date information and to try out new devices such as glucose monitors and insulin pumps and pens.

"I think people are learning that there are many options, including different kinds of meters, different insulin delivery devices and lots of classes," said Toni Thalman, a registered nurse and health education specialist at Jefferson. She's also a certified diabetes educator.

One piece of information Mr. Fowler learned from information his wife gathered at the fair is that the type of insulin he uses is now available in pens in addition to bottles.

The pens make insulin more portable, Mrs. Thalman said. Bottles hold larger doses, usually 1,000 units, and require refrigeration. The pens hold smaller amounts, enough for two or four weeks, and don't require refrigeration, she said.

Anne Copenhauer, 57, of New Eagle, bought a new glucose monitor at the diabetes fair. Like Mr. Fowler, Miss Copenhauer was unaware that she was diabetic until she was admitted to the hospital for another condition five years ago and it was discovered.

Since then, she, too, has been working to control the condition and her goal is to prevent the need to take insulin shots. She's been successful by taking oral medications.

"I do spot checks for my sugar every day and I'm trying to exercise, watch my diet and lose weight," she said.

Her new monitor will measure her blood-sugar levels at various times of the day, including before and after meals and after exercise.

Perhaps the most informed diabetic at the Jefferson fair was Susan DiVito, a registered nurse and territory manager for Animas Corp., which produces insulin pumps. She's also an insulin-dependant diabetic, a condition diagnosed when she was pregnant with her second child 19 years ago.

Mrs. DiVito, who uses an insulin pump, was a living example for anyone who wanted to see how they work and how they are worn and connected. Her pump administers insulin every three minutes. Before she went on the pump, she said, she took six shots of insulin a day.

She demonstrated how her pump adjusts her medication based on her food intake. The pump contains a 500-item food database that even includes items from most fast food restaurants.

For the first 10 years of her illness, Mrs. DiVito said, she took insulin injections and resisted going on the pump. But after agreeing to use it, she found she feels better and uses less insulin because the pump adjusts frequently to her body's insulin levels. And it's freed her from having to schedule her meals and activities around insulin injections.

For more information on diabetes and management of the disease, go to www.diabetes.org.