DALLAS – The Texas Family Forum, in conjunction with the Blackland Income Growth Program, will host a seminar called “Watch Out! Don’t Let Diabetes Catch Your Children! Prevention of Type-2 Diabetes” scheduled for Jan 16 at Texas A&M Dallas.
Registration starts at 8:30 a.m., and the program begins at 9 a.m.
The morning session will be videoconferenced to the Waco Convention Center and the Blackland Research Center in Temple, with all three locations holding individual afternoon sessions.
“Type-2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and is the sixth leading cause of death in Texas,” said Dr. Carol Rice, Texas Cooperative Extension health specialist and one of the scheduled speakers. “Eighty-five percent of the children diagnosed with Type-2 diabetes are obese.”
“While the target audience for this seminar includes school nurses, physical education. teachers and interested classroom teachers,” said Mary Strickland, district Extension director at Texas A&M Dallas, “anyone who works with elementary-age students is welcome to attend.”
The focus of this seminar is early recognition of the disease, prevention practices and understanding the biological, psychological and sociological impact of diabetes on children and their families.
“Dr John Menchaca, a pediatrician from Cook’s Children Physician Network will be the key note speaker giving a talk called ‘To Prevent Diabetes, Treat Obesity’,” said Strickland.
After lunch each location will continue independently with concurrent workshops on the disease’s impacts on health and nutrition, and emotional and physical well being.
“There are things that can be done to lower children’s risk of developing Type-2 diabetes,” said Rice. “Many think for now, the best strategy is to increase children’s physical activity level and improve their nutrition by keeping their fat intake to 30 percent of their daily calories.
“Texas Cooperative Extension has a program, Walk Across Texas, that schools can use to increase children’s physical activity by walking,” added Rice.
The fee for the seminar is $25. To register, contact Jacque Hand at (979) 845-7692. CEUs will be available at each site upon registration.
For additional information, contact a county Extension office.
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