Yuma County Health offers diabetes education and prevention classes

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Yuma Health officials said the incidence rate for diabetes in Yuma County alone is higher than in the state of Arizona.

Yuma County Health (YCH) offers two programs, one for those with diabetes and a pre-diabetic program to help prevent the disease.

According to health officials, diabetes affects 13.1% of the Yuma County population.

Diabetes is also linked to obesity, which health officials also said they see a high number of cases in Yuma County.

The YCH has partnered with the Center for Disease Prevention (CDC) for its newest program, the pre-diabetes program. It's a 24 session a year program with classes that last about an hour.

Health officials said that diabetes can be at some point prevented, which is the reason they feel this program will decrease the number of cases.

When a person has diabetes, their body is unable to maintain a balance in blood sugar levels. The program helps people with diabetes on how to monitor the disease, nutrition, dealing with depression, and medications.

The programs are both free of charge and open to anyone who would like to attend.

There will be a Spanish informational session on the Pre-diabetes Program on Thursday, January 16, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. at the San Luis Library conference room A.

For more information or questions on the two programs, you can contact YCH at (928) 317-4550.