County of Pitt issued the following announcement on Sept. 8.
ENC Prevent Diabetes to sponsor free event “Come Learn How to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes” to raise community awareness of the prediabetes/diabetes epidemic. The event will be held on Saturday, September 10, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at St. Peter Church of Christ located at 602 JP Harrison Blvd. Kinston, NC 20501.
“Come Learn How to Prevent T2 Diabetes” will highlight the ENC Prevent Diabetes program. ENC Prevent Diabetes is a regional program in 10 counties (Pitt, Lenoir, Craven, Carteret, Jones, Greene, Wayne, Wilson, Beaufort, and Pamlico) and is sponsored by the NC Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities. This program offers education on prediabetes, with a focus on how to make healthy lifestyle changes to lower the risk of developing diabetes.
“The ENC Prevent Diabetes program is significant because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has proven that individuals who enroll in the 12-month lifestyle program can reduce their risk of developing diabetes by as much as 58 percent. In addition to lowering the risk of developing diabetes, individuals are also likely to reduce their risk for other comorbidities such as heart disease, strokes, and certain cancers,” says Laquelia Lewis, MPH MA, CHES, ENC Prevent Diabetes Program Coordinator.
This event is free and open to anyone interested in learning about diabetes risk and prevention. The event will also include success stories/testimonies from those that are or were prediabetic. Prediabetes lifestyle coaches will be onsite to provide hemoglobin A1C testing, blood pressure checks, weight checks, and to answer questions community members may have regarding prediabetes or program participation.
Prediabetes is a condition in which blood sugar levels are elevated but not high enough to be considered diabetic, whereas, diabetes is a chronic, widespread condition characterized by high blood sugar in which the body does not produce enough insulin or properly use insulin, the hormone needed to transport glucose (sugar) from the blood into the cells of the body for energy. It is estimated that almost 30 million Americans have diabetes and an estimated 88 million have prediabetes. With both prediabetes and diabetes, lifestyle changes that focus on healthier eating, increased physical activity, stress reduction and coping skills can improve quality of life.
ENC Prevent Diabetes offers on-going class series aimed at helping adults with prediabetes make positive lifestyle changes that can reduce or eliminate their risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
For more information about ENC Prevent Diabetes or the event, please contact Laquelia Lewis at 252-902-2466.
The Mission of Pitt County Government is to enhance the health, safety, and well-being of our community by advocating for and providing quality services in a friendly and cost-effective manner. Learn more: www.PittCountyNC.gov
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