The Belleview Community Center will host a free weekly series of classes on diabetes education and prevention beginning on Wednesday, April 12, and there is still time to sign up.
The Diabetes Empowerment and Education Program (DEEP) is presented by the Florida Department of Health in Marion County (DOH-Marion), in partnership with the University of Florida’s Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences and SaludVIP. DEEP is a series of classes that aims to help participants who have diabetes or are considered pre-diabetic to better understand their condition and self-care options.
According to DOH-Marion, approximately 17% of the community’s adult population lives with diabetes. Another 10% of adult residents have been told that they are pre-diabetic, which means that they have elevated blood sugar levels that could develop into Type 2 diabetes if left untreated.
The first DEEP class will take place on Wednesday, April 12, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Belleview Community Center located at 5615 SE 110th Place in Belleview. The remaining weekly classes will occur at the same time and location on every Wednesday through May 17.
The classes will cover such topics as understanding how diabetes affects the human body and how to monitor it. DEEP will also focus on the importance of meal planning, physical activity, and a balanced diet, as well as teaching participants how to identify and prevent diabetic complications.
In addition, free clinical screenings will be available during each class.
There is no cost to attend the weekly series of diabetes education and prevention classes, but space is limited. For more information, or to reserve a seat, contact Melissa Marino via phone (352-644-2624) or email (Melissa.Marino@FLHealth.gov).