Diabetes is a disease that affects approximately 434,800 Alabamians, so it was great to learn about all of the educational events and classes going on around the county.

The Dallas County Extension Office and UAB Selma Family Medicine hosted separate gatherings last week to discuss how to live with and prevent type 2 diabetes.

Type-2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes, causes blood glucose to increase higher than normal, according to the American Diabetes Association.

The extension office held the first of its Power to Prevent Diabetes Classes Tuesday at the Orrville Community Center. The classes are free and will continue to be held at the center for the next five Tuesdays, with each meeting starting at 10 a.m.

“It’s important that we teach the few, so they can go home and teach the many,” said Dorothy Chatmon, the educator for the Power to Prevent Diabetes Class.

UAB Selma Family Medicine met for its regular meeting, which is held the second Wednesday of each month.

In a community where diabetes is all too common, this is a great sign for all of us. The tips given out at these meetings, which include regulating one’s weight, eating a nutritious diet and staying active, are so valuable.

We thank all of those involved for their time and effort to spread knowledge about diabetes.