LIHUE, Hawaii — Kauai County’s Agency on Elderly Affairs invites kupuna ages 60 and older to register for its upcoming Diabetes Self-Management Workshop series set to begin on May 30.

What You Need To Know

  • Kauai’s Diabetes Self-Management Workshop series will run for six weeks with classes from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. every Tuesday via telephone conference call

  • Seniors can register for the workshop by contacting Johnny Yago at 808-241-4898 or emailing jyago@kauai.gov at least five business days before the first workshop on May 30

  • Pre-registration is required; the workshop is limited to five participants

  • Participants will take an active role by making weekly action plans, sharing experiences and helping one another solve problems

The interactive workshop will run for six weeks, with classes from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. every Tuesday via telephone conference call.

“Many of our Kauai older adults have benefitted from the Diabetes Self-Management Program offered by our agency,” said Kealoha Takahashi, executive for the Agency on Elderly Affairs. “For a limited time, older adults 60 years and older can take part in this healthy aging program and learn about self-management and the importance of self-care.”

Seniors can register for the Diabetes Self-Management Workshop series by contacting Johnny Yago at 808-241-4898 or emailing jyago@kauai.gov at least five business days before the first workshop on May 30. Pre-registration is required; the workshop is limited to five participants.

The workshop is part of the statewide initiative, Hawaii Healthy Aging Partnership–Empowering Elders, and was developed by the Self-Management Resource Center. Its goal is to help build confidence in seniors to manage their diabetes while living full, active lives.

Seniors should plan to attend all six sessions. Topics will include:

  • Techniques to deal with diabetes symptoms — fatigue, pain, hyper/hypoglycemia, stress, and emotional problems such as depression, anger, fear and frustration
  • Exercise to maintain and improve strength and endurance
  • Healthy eating
  • Appropriate use of medication
  • How to work more effectively with health care providers

Participants will take an active role by making weekly action plans, sharing experiences and helping one another solve problems.

Visit the Hawaii Healthy Aging Partnership website or Kauai Agency on Elderly Affairs website to learn more about the workshop.

Sarah Yamanaka covers events, environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.