Nationally accredited diabetes education program comes to Kingsville

Residents of Kleberg County and surrounding areas now have access to quality diabetes education and support to help them live longer, happier, healthier lives. The Texas A&M Health Science Center Coastal Bend Health Education Center (CBHEC) has established an American Diabetes Association recognized program in Kingsville to empower individuals diagnosed with diabetes to take control of their health.

In South Texas, where nearly one in four adults has diabetes, access to diabetes education and ongoing support is crucial in improving the health and vitality of our community. Texas A&M CBHEC provides diabetes self-management education classes to help reduce life-threatening complications associated with the disease. The eight-hour program teaches about diabetes, healthy eating, physical activity, blood glucose monitoring, insulin administration, medication compliance, psychosocial issues and goal setting. Lab work is taken at the beginning of class, and follow-ups are offered every three months for one year following class to assess progress and provide support.

Classes are offered as one full day or four weekly sessions at the FUMC Community Life Center in downtown Kingsville. Transportation from your home to class and back is provided by the Transportation Coordination Network of the Coastal Bend (361-664-7TCN).

Medication assistance is also offered Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the program’s office at 120 N. 4^th Street in Kingsville. This service provides assistance with medication cost for a variety of prescriptions, including those that treat cardiovascular issues, asthma, pain, mental health, diabetes and more.

The CBHEC Diabetes Education program has provided patient-centered diabetes education for more than 15 years. Its bilingual team consists of a medical director, registered nurses, certified diabetes educators, a registered dietitian and community health workers. The team approach to diabetes care has been proven to provide continuous, supportive and effective care for people with diabetes, leading to improved glycemic control, reduced hospitalizations, improved quality of life and lower risk for the complications of diabetes.

The Kingsville program is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas to provide accessible diabetes education for residents of Kleberg County.