Free diabetes class available for seniors

Diabetes affects people of all ages, but it occurs more often in older adults. According to the American Diabetes Association, more than one in every four Americans over the age of 65 has diabetes.

Managing diabetes can be tough, but support from health care providers, diabetes educators, community resources and friends and family can make it much easier. The first step to better managing diabetes and high blood sugar is to learn more about it.

Clark Fork Valley Hospital, Mountain-Pacific Quality Health, the Medicare Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) for Montana, and the Montana Geriatric Education Center are partnering together to offer a series of six, free diabetes classes. These classes provide informative and interactive ways to help people with diabetes or pre-diabetes (high blood sugar)

understand diabetes and how it affects the entire body;

manage diabetes in a way that makes sense for them and their individual health goals;

become more informed members of their health care teams, as they continue to work with their doctors, diabetes educators and other health care providers to improve their health.

The class will meet Wednesdays, May 2 through June 6 , from 10 a.m. to noon in the Clark Fork Valley Hospital Training Room.

Class size is limited. Register by calling Aria Mangan at (406) 826-4669.

Those who have attended the classes across Montana are enjoying their experience and learning a lot about their health. “Everything I wondered about was answered,” said one participant after finishing the six classes. “I learned so much.” Another Montana participant said, “They listen to me, explain things clearly. I learned way more than I thought I would.”

The classes support, not replace, professional diabetes self-management education. They are designed for people with Medicare, but anyone with diabetes or pre-diabetes is welcome to attend.