Managing diabetes requires extensive lifestyle changes. From diet and exercise to regulating medication and insulin, coping with diabetes is a lifelong process that requires planning and concentration. In response to numerous requests from the community, Nash Health Care is starting a Diabetes Support Group which will meet monthly at Nash General Hospital. The group will be facilitated by Valorie Holwerda, RN, diabetes patient educator, and Jennifer Stephenson, RN, of HealthFirst Wellness Center.

The Diabetes Support Group will meet the third Tuesday of every month at Nash

General Hospital from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Meetings are scheduled for:

Sept. 15 --- Nash General Hospital auditorium
Oct. 20 --- Nash General Hospital auditorium
Nov. 17 - Nash General Hospital, conference room 2
Dec. 15 -- Nash General Hospital auditorium

"This support group was established to meet the needs of the community-not only have we had numerous requests for a diabetes support group, but our area has an extremely high incidence of diabetes, which means education and support are of vital importance to improving the health of our area," Holwerda said.

In North Carolina, diabetes prevalence has increased by 102 percent over the last decade, jumping from 4.5 percent in 1995 to 9.1 percent in 2006, according to the most recent figures available from the State Center for Health Statistics. Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in North Carolina.
For more information on the Diabetes Support Group, contact Valorie Holwerda at 443-8854.