The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District is partnering with the YMCA to bring diabetes education to the community, including a free diabetes management program developed by Stanford University.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, 26 million people in the U.S. suffered from diabetes in 2010 and 79 million more had been diagnosed with pre-diabetes. Thirteen percent of Bexar County residents are diabetic.
During the Month of November, Metro Health and the YMCA of Greater San Antonio will offer free classes to help patients prevent and self-manage diabetes.
Health district officials say diabetics can take steps to control the disease and prevent future complications and Type 2 diabetes is preventable through weight loss and physical activity.
The Diabetes Self-Management Program, developed at Stanford University, offers workshops that cover a range of topics including control of symptoms, healthy eating, setting goals, dealing with negative emotions, relaxation techniques, and working with your doctor.
High-risk populations include those of African American, Hispanic or Latino, and Native American descent.
Other risk factors include being over 45 years of age, a family history of diabetes, having diabetes during pregnancy, having given birth to a baby that weighed more than nine pounds, having high blood pressure or high cholesterol, and exercising fewer than three times a week.
