People with diabetes will have an opportunity to learn more about their disease and how to live a healthy life in a series of classes offered by PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center.

Join the next class starting February 21 which will include the following topics:

• Diabetes Basics and Nutrition (Feb. 21)
• Carbohydrate Counting; Self Blood Sugar Testing; Low Blood Sugar; Physical Activity (Feb. 28)
• High Blood Sugar/Sick Day Guidelines; Prevention; Complications; Healthy Eating (March 6)
• Meal Planning; Stress; Medications; Sexual Health; Sleep; Depression; Resources (March 13)

Classes meet in the Cedar Point Conference Room (PeaceHealth HR Office, 25 Jefferson Way, Second Floor) from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Two private one-on-one sessions are included and attendees may bring one support person free. The program is $330. To find out more about upcoming classes, call Diabetes Educator Dawn Teplick, RN, at 228-7685. Medicaid and other insurance billed if eligible.

More than 23.5 million Americans are estimated to have diagnosed or undiagnosed diabetes according to the Centers for Disease Control. That’s 7.8% of the population. Diabetes can’t be cured but people can live a health life and manage the disease with better nutrition, regular exercise and medication.

Anyone can get diabetes, although a hereditary component puts Native Americans, Filipinos and Hawaiians at greater risk.