Verde Valley Medical Center is hosting a diabetes support group Monday, Aug. 24, from 5-7 p.m. in VVMC Conference
Room A for individuals, family members and friends whose lives have been affected by diabetes. August’s guest speaker will be Joy Marimon, exercise physiologist, of the VVMC Cardiac Rehabilitation department. Marimon will talk about the importance of exercise and how being active plays a large part in preventing diabetes complications. It also can help in the prevention of type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and lifestyle factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.

There are 23.6 million children and adults in the United States, or 7.8 percent of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 17.9 million individuals have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 5.7 million people are unaware they have the disease.

For more information, please call 639-6346. For easiest access to Conference Room A, please park in the visitor lot on Candy Lane, and enter through the Outpatient Services entrance.