Diabetes Support Group to meet at Veterans Memorial Hospital

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, March 19 at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital in the Large Conference Room, located on the lower level of the hospital.

Speakers presenting to the groups this month will include Melanie Bauch, Director of the Northeast Iowa Wellness and Recreation Center in Postville. She will be sharing information about a falls prevention program starting soon in her facility. Falls are the leading cause of injury and injury-related death among adults age 65 and older in Iowa, so this program is very worthwhile in keeping this population in the local area independent and healthy.

The second speaker will be Amanda Pettit, RN and friends of Senior Life Solutions (SLS). This is a new program located right within VMH that promotes mental health and offers counseling for those in need. It is another program designed for those over 65.

The staff of SLS will inform everyone attending of what services they provide in detail and explain how someone can be referred to them.

This diabetes class is open to everyone who has diabetes or anyone who as a friend or loved one with diabetes. In case of inclement weather, the Diabetes Support Group will cancel if Allamakee Community School is closed. If school starts late, the Support Group will still occur as usual. Attendees are encouraged to stay home if they feel the sidewalks or roads are too slippery to safely venture outdoors.

For more information on the Diabetes Support Group, call Angie Mettille, RN, Diabetes Educator, at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.