MADERA –On Diabetes Alert Day, Mar. 27, the Madera County Public Health Department (MCPHD) would like to highlight Project Dulce, a 5-week community-based program for individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Project Dulce educates participants on various topics including diabetes risks, signs, symptoms, nutrition, physical activity, as well as medication and stress management methods to cope with diabetes.
The classes are conducted at Camarena Health and Madera Community Hospital in the evenings and mornings. This week, the program will graduate its 7th Cohort.
According to MCPHD, a study released in 2016 by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research (CCPHA) showed that 45 percent of adults in Madera County are estimated to have pre-diabetes or undiagnosed diabetes, while another 12 percent have already been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
In order to combat these increasing rates of diabetes, MCPHD has partnered with Camarena Health, Madera Community Hospital, and Dr. Samrao to establish the innovative Project Dulce program. The program is the first of its kind in Madera County empowering participants with type 2 diabetes to take control of their condition.
The program provides participants with valuable information and tools to manage and prevent diabetes complications. Sessions are designed in an open discussion format and facilitators encourage participant involvement and sharing of experiences. Participants are able to develop relationships with members of the community who can provide them with additional support as well as build friendships with others with diabetes.
A total of 77 people have completed the program since its start in 2017. Participants have learned that it is possible to live a happy, healthy life with diabetes while managing and improving their diabetes.
“Honestly, at first I really didn’t want to come to the classes,” said Marybell Orejel Project Dulce participant. “But thank you Emily and Uriana [Camarena Health Registered Dietitian and Health Educator] for doing this class. I’ve learned so much. You made this class very interesting. I looked forward to this class every week. Thank you.”
For more information about Diabetes Alert Day or Project Dulce classes near you, visit www.diabetes.org or Camarena Health at 559-664-4123
