LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Xochitl Mora,

Laredo, TX—The City of Laredo Health Department (CLHD), in collaboration with the Laredo Health Coalition (LHC), is starting a new program to increase diabetes prevention awareness activities and improve diabetes self management to prevent complications.  Both efforts will improve positive health outcomes.

 Healthy Living/Viviendo Mejor (HLVM) focuses on the family and community at large who are at risk of diabetes by learning to reduce risk factors. Second, it will help persons with diabetes and their family members take control of their chronic disease by educating them about diabetes, its care and therapy.  Through diabetes self management classes, cooking lessons, fitness activities and peer support activities, we can help increase prevention through diabetes risk reduction for the community at large.  HLVM will offer:

·         Increase awareness and knowledge of diabetes and its risk factors

·         Education on prevention of complications associated with diabetes

·         Increase quality of life for people with diabetes by teaching how to manage the disease and delay or prevent complications

·         Decrease the number of Laredoans with undiagnosed diabetes.

·         Increase the number of people who make and sustain effective lifestyle changes to prevent diabetes among people at risk for type 2 diabetes.

 These free interactive classes will be offered to persons with diabetes, their family members and anyone at risk of diabetes and/or who is overweight at the following locations:

For more information about the Healthy Living/Viviendo Mejor initiative, or to sign up call: Zaida Gonzalez, Health Educator Supervisor for the City of Laredo Health Department, at (956) 795-4918.