Seminar will educate on diabetes

The 6th Annual Diabetes Today Seminar will offer those with the condition some healthy options and tips on managing their diabetes.

The Dallas County Extension Office is putting on the seminar that will be held Nov. 30 at 9:30 a.m. at the YMCA of Selma-Dallas County.

"What we're trying to do is to try to educate people that are either living with diabetes or people who are care gives for folks that have diabetes," said extension coordinator Callie Nelson. "Diabetes is a disease that you can really live a healthy lifestyle if you learn what to do. So that's why it's so important for people to come and become educated."

The theme for the seminar is "This is Diabetes," and Nelson said they plan to lay out what the disease is and how best to control it and live a healthier life.

"We'll be just trying to educate them and let them know that they can live a really healthy and prosperous life and have good health if they learn to keep their numbers under control," Nelson said. "I've found that some people that have been diagnosed with diabetes have felt like it was just the end of their life, ?. But it doesn't have to be that. You can still live a very healthy lifestyle and live a long time if you learn how to manage."

Nelson said the will have different speakers and presenters to help the attendees understand all there is to know about the disease.

"We're having a couple of speakers. One is going to talk about carb counting and eating healthy because that's always an issue," Nelson said. "People when they're diagnosed with diabetes, they don't really know what they can and cannot eat, and there's a lot of questions about the carbs."

Nelson said they will also have health science students from Dallas County Career Tech Center, who are going to be doing blood pressure checks, along with someone who will do free diabetes screenings.

"We will also have someone coming and talking about the importance of physical activity and how they can help them manage their diabetes. What kind of exercises are best and how much they need to do," Nelson said. "It's always good to see people to come out and learn new things."

Nelson said they will discuss their ABC's. A for A1C and how to keep track of their blood sugar count for a 3-6 month period; B for blood pressure; and C for managing cholesterol.

"We'll be touching on all three of those and helping people understand that," Nelson said. "They'll leave there with a plan and that's our goal, to come up with a game plan and to learn how to manage their diabetes."

Registration for the seminar begins at 9:30 a.m. The cost of the seminar is $5 and a light lunch will be provided.

"If people can't afford to pay that, they can still come," Nelson said. "We never turn anybody away."

For more information about the seminar or to register, call 875-3200.