The Pitt County Health Department, along with support from the
Vidant Health Foundation, will host “The Right Prescription” on Wednesday,November 18, 2020 from 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm. This will be a virtual event
broadcast via Zoom. The event is free and open to the public.“The Right Prescription” will focus on medication risks versus benefits, potential side
effects, and the foundational prescriptions of healthy eating and physical activity formanaging diabetes.
Individuals who would like to register for this event should contact Angie Watson at 252-902-2361 or via email angie.watson@pittcountync.gov.
The event will highlight two local programs: the Diabetes SelfManagement Education program (DSME) and the NC Minority Diabetes Prevention
Program (MDPP). These programs offer education about diabetes and pre-diabetes,with a focus on how to make healthy lifestyle changes to lower the risk of developing
diabetes, or managing diabetes well for those living with this diagnosis.The event also includes success stories / testimonies from those living with diabetes
and pre-diabetes. A cooking demonstration will showcase a tasty, healthy, and easy tomake meal: maple mustard pork with roasted sweet potato and cauliflower. The
recipe will be provided to participants. Laisha Ponder, Nutritionist and Chef, alongwith Registered Dietitians, Nurses and Diabetes Educators will be onsite to provide
education and answer question
Diabetes is a chronic, widespread condition characterized by higher than normalamounts of sugar in the blood. It is estimated that almost 30 million Americans have
diabetes, plus an estimated 86 million have prediabetes. In Pitt County, 1 in 3 peoplehave prediabetes with 90% of those being unaware of it, and 1 in every 10 has
diagnosed diabetes. With both prediabetes and diabetes, lifestyle changes that focuson healthier eating, increased physical activity, stress reduction and coping skills can
improve quality of life.The Pitt County Health Department offers on-going class series and a monthly support
group aimed at helping adults living with diabetes or prediabetes to develop a self-management plan that works for them.