PARSIPPANY — The Diabetes Foundation in partnership with Morristown Medical Center Community Health Department and ShopRite of Parsippany, will sponsor a free monthly diabetes education program at ShopRite, 808 Route 46 West. Majority funding for the events will be provided by pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk.
Sessions will be held the first Wednesday of each month, with the first one scheduled for Wednesday, February 3 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. A “teachable” dinner will be served at each session.
The program is designed to assist those individuals with diabetes or pre-diabetes (or with a family history of diabetes) to maintain or improve their health. Program topics include proper nutrition, appropriate medications, blood sugar control and physical activity. Complimentary health screenings will include A1C blood sugar, cholesterol, etc. One-on-one nutrition and diabetes care coaching will be offered along with prizes and giveaways.
“For those individuals with pre-diabetes or diabetes this program is a perfect opportunity to help realize your New Year’s Resolution to strive for better health,” said Roberta Schmidt, executive director of The Diabetes Foundation. “We strongly encourage residents to take advantage of this chance to educate themselves and their families about diabetes and, should they or a loved one have diabetes or pre-diabetes, to learn what they need to do to manage it effectively.”
There are nearly one million adults and children in New Jersey with diabetes. People with poorly controlled diabetes are at high risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage, amputation and death. Diabetes is the third leading cause of death among Americans, and the number one cause of blindness and non-traumatic amputations.
The Diabetes Foundation (www.diabetesfoundationinc.org), in 1990 to assist people with diabetes throughout the state of New Jersey, is dedicated to improving the care and quality of life for children and adults with diabetes. The organization offers diabetes medications and supplies to uninsured and underinsured individuals with diabetes; provides patient advocacy whereby DFI staff, interns and volunteers connect with patients to offer educational information and resources for them to move forward; educates the public on preventing diabetes, identifying it, and learning to cope with the disease; and provides the funding to send needy children from the tri-state area to Camp Nejeda, a diabetes camp in Sussex County.
Registration is required and space is limited. To register, contact the Diabetes Foundation at (201) 444-0337 or (800) 633-3160.
