The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office in McLennan County will hold a Coping 2 Control: Living Positive with Diabetes program starting Feb. 13. The three-part series for people with Type 2 diabetes will also be held on Feb. 20 and Feb. 27.
All meetings will be from 5:30-7 p.m. at 4224 Cobbs Drive in Waco. There is no cost to attend, but participants should register by calling the AgriLife Extension office in McLennan County at 254-757-5180 or email Colleen Foleen, AgriLife Extension family and community health agent for McLennan County, at Colleen.Foleen@ag.tamu.edu.
Foleen said programs on healthy coping are critical to address the emotional factors in diabetes care and that the Coping 2 Control program responds to this need.
“People with diabetes experience varying degrees of negative emotions and problems coping with their illness,” she said. “Common negative emotions include anxiety, frustration, stress, anger and concerns about diabetes and its complications.”
Coping 2 Control topics
Foleen will cover “Three Things to Know About Diabetes, Distress and Depression” over the course of the program. The series is designed to empower and equip individuals with Type 2 diabetes to effectively deal with stress and negative emotions.
The program will cover the seven self-care behaviors considered by the American Association of Diabetes Educators to be essential for successful and effective diabetes self-management. Behaviors include healthy coping, healthy eating, being active, monitoring, taking medication, problem solving and reducing risks.
“Successful coping with negative emotions is a recommended strategy to enhance diabetes self- management and quality of life,” Foleen said.
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