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Kate Long

writing coach / reporter / radio producer

For 25 years, I've coached writers and editors at papers, conferences and associations (including CDHJF) around the country. I also produce projects for my two home bases in my home state of West Virginia: The Charleston Gazette and West Virginia Public Radio.

I am very centered on West Virginia and the Appalachian area. I have written extensively about health insurance (lack thereof), community health centers (FQHCs), health care reform, medical home projects, health issues affecting elderly, and social determinants of health, such as predatory mortgages.

Articles

<p>Donovan Patterson was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes when he was 14 years old.&nbsp;The only time the thought of beind stuck with diabetes for the rest of his life leaves his mind is when he's playing music.</p><p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;

<p>A federally-funded health center, Cabin Creek Health Systems accepts patients whether they can pay or not. Freida Smith is one of their 14,000 patients.</p>

<div class="node-body"><div class="node-body"><div class="node-body"><div class="node-body"><div class="node-body"><div class="node-body"><div class="node-body"><p>Three years ago, when West Virginia was leading the nation in diabetes, the&nbsp;American Diabetes Association&nbsp;shut down its West Virginia office.</p><div>Now, officials have decided to bring the organization back to West Virginia.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

<div class="node-body"><div class="node-body"><div class="node-body"><div class="node-body"><div class="node-body"><div class="node-body"><p>West Virginia is among the top five on just about every national chronic disease list. The state leads the nation in diabetes and obesity, according to the Gal

<p>One in six of Logan County's 36,700 residents is a diabetic, according to the Centers for Disease Control, and there are many more who don't know they have it.</p>

<p>Think about this: More than 200,000 West Virginians have contracted a disease that kills people. About 69,000 of them don't know they have it.</p>

<p>Glenda has no insurance. She makes $350 every two weeks. If she were diabetic, she could get insulin free through the clinic if she needed it, but not the diabetic finger sticks and testing strips, which cost about $45. "I can't afford to get diabetes," she said.</p>