Free, Six-Week Diabetes Workshop Jan. 23-Feb. 27 in Wynne
| The Center on Aging-Northeast in Jonesboro, part of the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), will hold a free, six-week Diabetes Empowerment Education Program (DEEP) workshop in Wynne to teach diabetes self-management.
The workshop, which is open to the public, will be held from 1-3 p.m. each Thursday Jan. 23-Feb. 27 at the Cross County Public Library, 410 Merriman Ave. in Wynne. To reserve a space at the popular workshop, call the Center on Aging-Northeast at 870-207-7595.
The DEEP workshop teaches about diabetes and how it affects your body, blood sugar levels and what they mean, how to use a glucometer, meal planning, setting goals for proper nutrition, physical activity, regular check-ups with their physicians, and consistent medication use. The workshop includes participant activities and sharing information with the group.
Diabetes self-management classes show participants how behavior change can allow them to continue living an active life with diabetes.
Nearly 13% of adults in the United States age 20 and older have diabetes, according to the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly one-third of people 65 and older have diabetes. The disease brings with it the risk of complications such as blindness, amputations of lower extremities, kidney failure, heart disease and stroke. Its financial cost and the impact on patients’ and families’ lives are considerable.
Yet, the disease can be prevented and managed. Reducing the prevalence and managing the disease are a matter of education and effort on the part of the public, especially those more at risk for the disease. Hispanics, Native Americans and African Americans are more at risk due to genetic and social factors.
UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and seven institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute and Institute for Digital Health & Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise including its hospital, regional clinics and clinics it operates or staffs in cooperation with other providers. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. U.S. News & World Report named UAMS Medical Center the state’s Best Hospital; ranked its ear, nose and throat program among the top 50 nationwide; and named six areas as high performing — cancer, colon cancer surgery, heart failure, hip replacement, knee replacement and lung cancer surgery. UAMS has 2,727 students, 870 medical residents and five dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 10,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or www.uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram.