The Shining Mountain Health and Wellness team is sponsoring a series of four classed to educate the membership and community on diabetes prevention. The sessions are being held at the SunUte Community Center throughout the month of November. The program is being held in conjunction with National Diabetes Month. Each session will cover a different aspect of health and prevention; lunch is also served.

Kicking off the four week seminar was Ignacio’s own Dr. Mark Saddler who gave an educational presentation on kidney health, dubbed ‘Healthy kidney are happy kidneys.’

“The kidneys have a remarkable ability to reabsorb good things that your body needs, and filter out the waste,” Dr. Saddler said. He covered topics such as water intake, filtration of everyday toxins, hormone production and the dangers that pain killer pose to kidney health.

Dr. Saddler also emphasized the correlation between diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), offering that a healthy lifestyle and good nutrition is both beneficial, and often times critical in maintaining healthy kidney function.

In addition to healthy appetizers, and a homemade stew, prizes were also raffled off to those in attendance.

Nutrition is the headliner for next week’s class, presented by Lisa B. Smith, RDN on Nov. 14. Followed by ‘Exercise to Combat Diabetes’ — an interactive session with MMA fighter Kevin Wirth, open to all levels of athleticism, Nov 21. The finale is a presentation on the use of medications and insulin by Paige Kapp, CDE, PharmD, Nov. 28.

The Take Charge, diabetes classes are free of charge. RSVP with Shining Mountain Health and Wellness at (970) 563-2349.