Chronic conditions are the leading cause of illness, disability and death in America according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic conditions include diabetes, heart disease and cancer, among others. Broadly speaking, these are diseases that last for a year or more and require ongoing medical support or lead to drastic changes in daily life<\/p>\n
For those dealing with health issues, there are support groups and even workshops to manage the symptoms and lead a healthy lifestyle. In Northern Nevada, the <a href="https:\/\/med.unr.edu\/sanford\/health-services\/<a href="https:\/\/lumeamara.online\/?p=5462" title="Free youth mental health and wellness<\/a> fair”>wellness<\/a>-programs” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank”>Sanford Center for Aging<\/a> at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine is licensed to provide the Diabetes Self-Management Program, Diabetes Prevention Program and Living Well with Chronic Conditions. Other organizations provide the same workshops throughout the country. All workshops are free, evidence-based and designed for those dealing with a chronic or limiting health condition.<\/p>\n \u201cManaging chronic conditions is difficult, especially when you don’t feel like you’re making progress,\u201d said Michael Gonzalez, program coordinator for health and wellness at the Sanford Center for Aging. \u201cMany participants start noticing small wins within the first few weeks. By the end of the program, many leave with greater confidence in their ability to take care of themselves and manage their conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n Zelma Dick is a regular participant who started with Sanford Center for Aging\u2019s Fit & Strong class during the COVID-19 pandemic before entering the Diabetes Prevention Program and the Diabetes Self-Management Program thereafter. From the workshops, she reduced her A1C, the average amount of sugar in her blood, from a 7.7, which is considered diabetic, to a 5.3, which is within the normal range<\/p>\n \u201cI am extremely grateful; I don\u2019t think I would have improved my health if not for this class and reinforcement,\u201d said Dick<\/p>\n Providing more than just education, these workshops provide shared learning and peer support. These support systems provide a sense of community and accountability with benefits that include skill development, personal growth and social inclusion<\/p>\n \u201cPeople in the class share their experiences too, which is helpful as you go through the materials,\u201d said Dick. \u201cGoal setting is huge with constant reinforcement to help you stay on track from fellow participants and the program instructors. I tell others about my experience and my health journey to encourage them to sign up too.\u201d<\/p>\n