- By: Adam Russell, 903-834-6191, adam.russell@ag.tamu.edu
- Contact: Joel Redus, 936-632-8239, joel.redus@ag.tamu.edu
LUFKIN — Diabetes is not curable, but it is manageable, said Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service family and consumer science agent Joel Redus, who serves Angelina County.
AgriLife Extension will offer the Do Well, Be Well with Diabetes educational program in Angelina County to help area residents manage the disease.
Classes will be held each Thursday from 6-8 p.m. from May 19-June 16 at the AgriLife Extension office located at 2201 S. Medford Dr. in Lufkin. Cost is $20 per person for all five classes. A limited number of scholarships are available to those needing financial assistance and are on a first-come, first-served basis.
With proper management, people with diabetes can keep their costs, health risks, quality of life and productivity very close to those without the disease, Redus said.
The program is a five-class series that will cover basic nutrition and self-care management topics. The program helps people with type 2 diabetes learn the skills needed to manage their disease successfully with the primary goal of improving blood glucose management.
Often, people with diabetes feel like they are managing the disease because they have not suffered complications such as nerve or kidney damage, Redus said. But uncontrolled diabetes wreaks havoc on every system in the body, even if it takes years to notice problems.
Redus said there is much misinformation, confusion, and conflicting advice about how to best manage type 2 diabetes. Do Well, Be well with Diabetes teaches research-based, straight-forward methods for managing diabetes.
“We want to show people that it is likely less complicated than they think to control their diabetes, rather than let diabetes control them,” he said.
Diabetes experts and professional educators will answer questions from participants. The curriculum is consistent with the American Diabetes Association Standards of Care.
Register at http://bit.ly/1MX3vTE by May 13 to reserve a spot. For more information, visit the same link or contact Redus at 936-634-6414 extension 101 or joel.redus@ag.tamu.edu.
The class schedule will be: Getting Started: How Food Affects Your Blood Glucose – May 19. Are You Eating the Right Number of Carbohydrates? Let’s Find Out – May 26. Beyond the Diet: Improving Your Blood Glucose Control with Physical Activity – June 2. Beyond Diet and Physical Activity: Improving Your Blood Glucose Control with Medication – June 9. Celebrating Diabetes Control While Avoiding Complications: Having Your Cake (or Snack) and Eating It Too – June 16.
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