Helping Hands: Andrew Mandell

Name: Andrew Mandell “Mr. Diabetes”

Hometown: Boston, MA

DOB: April 23, 1945

Title: Executive Director, Defeat Diabetes Foundation

How long have you been serving the community?
“I did a 10,000 mile perimeter walk of the United States. The walk started here in Madeira Beach. It was a walk of awareness, a walk to find out what’s really going on out there. It started on December 1 of 2001 and finished on December 21 of 2008, so it really was a full 8 years."

What inspired you to help the community?
“We founded this, my brother Jerry and I. We come from a diabetic family. My diagnosis came in 1985. I found that my condition wasn’t improving following the conventional treatment of the time.

Prevention is key. The cause of it is more lifestyle than medical, so we focus on fitness and nutrition. Our motto is ‘Awareness + Action = Prevention.’ We’re doing it because it needs to be done.”

What are you doing to help the community?
“We send each and every elementary school a form and a screening test brochure. Let us know how many students there are and we will supply the pamphlets free of charge. We’ve put out over 4 million of these.

The second Wednesday of every month we have a Diabetes Support Group at the Jewish Community Center in St. Petersburg.”

How can the public help out?
“We’d love to get volunteers. We have a lot of data entry work to do.”

What do you like about the beaches?
“We’re settled here, in Redington Beach. I moved down here in 1990. Initially, coming from a concrete jungle, I didn’t really like it. But now I appreciate the quiet and serenity.”