Free diabetes education classes offered to Medicare beneficiaries

Free diabetes self-management classes for Medicare beneficiaries are being offered by Healthcentric Advisors, the New England Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization (NE QIN-QIO), in collaboration with the Rhode Island Department of Health. These classes are conducted in an interactive workshop format, and are 2 1/2 hours in length and held once each week for six consecutive weeks.

Subjects covered include: techniques to manage the symptoms of diabetes; appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength and endurance; healthy eating; appropriate use of medication; and working more effectively with health care providers. Participants are encouraged to develop weekly action plans to address the issues they face.

These workshops are held in communities throughout Rhode Island. Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes and pre-diabetes are encouraged to participate. Please call Brenda Jenkins at 401-528-3246 or Joyce Laforge at 401-528-3268 to find out when the next nearby class is scheduled to begin.