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A healthy mouth is essential for healthy living.  The mouth is where digestion begins when chewing mixes food with saliva.  A healthy mouth is also important for communication and social interaction and overall personal appearance is dramatically affected by one’s smile.  Everyone needs to pay attention to oral health.  A person is not truly healthy unless he/she also has oral health.  This is particularly true for people living with diabetes.

A number of oral disorders are associated with diabetes.  It is important for people with diabetes, their health care providers and any caregivers to understand the importance of oral health and if problems occur, arrange for appropriate care.  Especially important is preventative oral health care, which involves personal oral hygiene practices and regular visits to the dentist.

The November 11 session of “Control Diabetes for Life” will help participants take a serious look at how to incorporate dental health into their diabetes self-management plans.   Deborah Willcox, R.D., L.M.N.T., will discuss the importance of oral dental care for those diagnosed with diabetes.  Knowledge is power and learning all that you can about diabetes and the latest research details related to diabetes will help those with diabetes to hold their blood sugar levels in tighter control and improve their dental health.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension and Franciscan Care Services invite you and your family members to participate. The series is being offered via the two-way interactive distance education facilities.

Monday, November 11, is the third session of three programs in the 2013 series. The theme for the session is “Remember the Basics during the Holidays”.  Topics that will be addressed during the two-hour program are: “Re-energize! Find More Energy to Exercise”; “Back to the Basics”; “Oral Health”; Gender Gap—How Diabetes Is Different for Men and Women” and “Holiday Stress Management” along with other helpful hints.

The live program will be offered from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Tekamah Herman High School Media Room. NOTE: This is a NEW location in Tekamah. The live program will be broadcast in the Tekamah-Herman High School Media Room. Enter the school through the double gym doors then turn & go right. Signs will be posted.

Team teaching the program will be Deborah Willcox, R.D., LMNT, and Stacie Petersen, R.N., B.R.N. and Certified Diabetes Educator both of Franciscan Care Services in West Point and Debra Schroeder, UNL Extension Educator in Cuming County. The team has over 20 years of experience in teaching diabetes programming. Guest instructor will be Terry Nelson, Physical Therapist with Franciscan Care Services who is conducting extensive research on exercise’s effects on diabetes and quality of life for his D.P.T.

Participants are asked to pre-register for “Control Diabetes for Life” by calling the UNL Extension office in Burt County at 402/374-2929.  Please register by Friday, November 8, so the proper number of handouts may be prepared.

This program is offered free-of-charge by UNL Extension, Franciscan Care Service of West Point and the schools hosting the presentation.

Control your diabetes for life! Start by attending the November 11 distance education program. Call today to register!