Free Diabetes Education Classes and Online Sessions Available in Marion County

The Marion County Public Health Department is offering free diabetes education classes to help individuals manage and prevent the disease. The "ABCs of Diabetes" series will be held at various library branches throughout the year.

"The ABCs of Diabetes will be a four-part series designed to provide adults with diabetes and prediabetes, as well as their families and friends, with knowledge and resources for managing and preventing the disease."

The first series will take place from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on four Wednesdays in April at the Franklin Road branch of the Indianapolis Public Library. Participants are asked to attend all four sessions.

In addition, the same series will be presented online in May, July, September, and December. Other library branches will host the series later this year: Martindale-Brightwood library branch in June, Eagle library branch in August, Glendale library branch in October, and Pike library branch in November.

The topics to be covered include healthy eating, increasing physical activity, medication management, and preventing complications associated with diabetes. Registration and more information can be found online or by calling 317-221-2094.

The classes have been accredited by the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists. According to the Indiana Department of Health, an estimated 12% of Indiana's population had diabetes in 2021, with Hoosiers being diagnosed at an average age of 47 years.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2021, an estimated 11.6% of the population, or 38.4 million Americans, had diabetes, with 29.7 million cases having been diagnosed. Additionally, 97.6 million adults had prediabetes.