Register Now For Diabetes Self-Management Workshop Series

Kaua‘i kupuna age 60 and older are invited to attend a series of workshops offered by the county Agency on Elderly Affairs about how to self-manage diabetes.

Registration is now open for the agency’s upcoming Diabetes Self-Management Workshop series. The interactive workshop series will run six weeks starting Tuesday, Sept. 20. Classes will be from 2-3 p.m. every Tuesday via telephone conference call. To get the maximum benefit from the series, participants should plan to attend all six sessions.

“We are excited to offer this program for a second time this year, as we know that many of our Kaua‘i kupuna have benefited from learning about self-management and the importance of self-care when it comes to diabetes,” Kealoha Takahashi, executive for the Agency on Elderly Affairs, said in a press release.

Pre-registration is required and is limited to eight participants. Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Once registration is full, anyone interested in participating will be placed on a waitlist for future workshops.

To register for the workshop, contact Johnny Yago at 808-241-4898 or via email at jyago@kauai.gov.

Developed by Self-Management Resource Center, the workshop series is designed to provide support and build confidence in the participants’ ability to manage their diabetes while maintaining active and fulfilling lives. Among the topics that will be covered are:

• Techniques to deal with the symptoms of diabetes, fatigue, pain, hyper/hypoglycemia, stress and emotional problems such as depression, anger, fear and frustration.
• Appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength and endurance.
• Healthy eating.
• Appropriate use of medication.
• How to work more effectively with health care providers.

Participants will make weekly action plans, share experiences and help each other solve problems they encounter in creating and carrying out their self-management program.

The workshop is a part of a statewide initiative called Hawai‘i Healthy Aging Partnership – Empowering Elders. For more information, visit the Hawai‘i Healthy Aging Partnership website or the Agency on Elderly Affairs website and click on “Calendar” under the “Resources” tab.