Barbara Susan Borrell was born on March 26, 1942, in Beacon, New York. She attended St. John Evangelist Grade School, Beacon, NY. Mount Saint Mary Academy, Newburgh, NY. Marywood College in Scranton, PA. Hunter College in NYC, NY and Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ.
She graduated from Marywood University with a Bachelor of Science degree- Magna Cum Laude. Hunter College with a Master of Science in nutrition – Magna Cum Laude. Arizona State with a Master in Business Administration – Cum Laude. Barbara was elected to Omicro Nu – the Alpha Rio Chapter, for her highest scholastic achievement at Hunter College. Omicro Nu is the highest National Honor Fraternity established for graduate students and masters, doctoral recipients in the field of Home Economics. She completed her medical dietetic internship at Mayo clinic in Rochester, MN.
Barbara was a Registered Dietitian with the American Dietetic Association since September 1968. She achieved the Marquis Who’s Who of American Women Award and remained an active member of the American Dietetic Association, American Diabetic Association and Florida Dietetic Association. She has been honorably recognized by these medical associations for her contributions in the nutritional field until her death.
Barbara had appeared on Good Morning America several times commenting on many updated nutritional topics. She is the co-author of diabetic and cardiac cookbooks.
She has worked with the American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association and Amercian Cancer Association, talking at medical conferences as to effective and healthy means of living with various diagnoses.
She was also involved with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as a volunteer with the First Connection and with the activities at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s events. Barbara would contact blood cancer patients with similar blood cancers as she had. Due to her being a longtime survivor of leukemia and lymphoma, she would “coach” these blood cancer survivors. Being a registered dietitian had provided Barbara with a tool to mention the significance of a healthy diet and exercise for any form of cancer. She was first diagnosed with chronic lymphatic leukemia in January of 1993.
Barbara had been a member of the East Central Dietetic Association in which she held the positions of Secretary, member of Awareness for Hunger Committee and National Nutrition Committee Chairperson, as well as, assisting many other nutritional committees.
Barbara is the youngest, diagnosed Type 1 diabetic diagnosed in the United States. She was born on March 26 and on March 28, through the diligence of a most observant nurse, by doing a simplified urine test that was rushed to Vassar Brothers medical Center in Poughkeepsie, NY. She was given a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes.
In 1942, there wasn’t anything available as there is today for diabetes education. Through the efforts of the Registered dietitian at Vassar Brothers Medical Center, meal patterns were developed for Barbaras parents to follow. Being a Type 1 diabetic, Barbaras’s entire life has never interfered with any activity or event for her.
Barbara has participated in diabetes research for several decades. She was the most active in the DCCT Diabetic studies that were conducted in the 1970’s. They illustrated the significance of multiple injections and blood glucose testing. She was also involved with studies utilizing human insulin and blood glucose monitors.
She coordinated the upgrade for the 1995 American Diabetes Association systems utilizing carbohydrate gram calculations in coordination with the American Diabetic Association and the American Dietetic Association.
She has written many articles concerning pediatric and adult nutrition, cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes and cardiovascular disorders for the major medical journals.
Barbara moved to Orlando in 1994. She was a member of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Orlando, Florida and was active with the Catholic Council of Women at St. Charles Boromeo for several years.
She is survived by her nephews, Anthony Nason and Vincent James Borrell.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 1101 N. Destiny Rd. Maitland, FL 32751 or American Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 3319 Maguire Blvd. Orlando, FL 32803