Diabetes workshop starts on Tuesday

LIHU‘E — The first Better Choices, Better Health interactive workshop, focusing on a Diabetes Self-Management system, will start on Tuesday for six weeks through either teleconference or virtually through Microsoft Teams.

The Agency on Elderly Affairs is inviting kupuna ages 60 years and older to apply by contacting Johnny Yago at 808-241-4898, or email jyago@kauai.gov. Preregistration is required for the workshop. The program is limited to five participants.

The teleconference session will be held every Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Microsoft Teams sessions will be held every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Originally developed at Stanford University, the Better Choices, Better Health workshops are evidence-based, self-management programs aimed to help participants better manage their health.

The program developed by Self-Management Resource Center is designed to provide support and build confidence in the participants’ ability to manage their diabetes while maintaining active and fulfilling lives.

The workshop series is part of a statewide initiative called Hawai‘i Healthy Aging Partnership — Empowering Elders, and to gain maximum benefit, participants should plan on attending all six sessions.

During the sessions, topics that will be covered include:

• 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;

• And, how to work more effectively with healthcare providers.

Participants, during the course of six weeks, will make action plans, share experiences and help each other solve problems they encounter in creating and carrying out their self-management program.

For more information on the workshop, visit the Hawai‘i Healthy Aging Partnership website at www.hawaiihealthyaging.org/, or the Agency on Elderly Affairs website at www.kauaiadrc.org.

For those who need an auxiliary aid or service, or other accomodations due to a disability, contact Yago at 808-241-4898 or email jyago@kauai.gov as soon as possible. Requests made as early as possible will allow time to fulfill requests.