Michigan State University Extension will host “Online Diabetes Path Series” — a self-management workshop where individuals learn tools to manage diabetes — from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursdays June 25 through July 30. The six-week course is free and open to all Michigan residents. (Photo courtesy of Pixabay)

MARQUETTE –An online workshop that’s been shown to help those with diabetes reduce their emergency room visits, hospitalizations and duration of hospital stays while increasing their overall confidence in managing their diabetes will soon be available virtually for Michiganders.

The “Online Diabetes PATH Series,” presented by Michigan State University Extension, will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursdays June 25 through July 30.

The free, six-week course, which was developed by Stanford University in 2004, is a program offered around the globe for people who have diabetes, as well as their family members, friends or caregivers, MSU Extension Educator Christi Demitz said in an email.

The series has two facilitators who will introduce various topics during the workshop to make sure the program stays on track, Demitz said.

“Diabetes is a chronic condition, which means there is not a cure at this time,” Demitz said. “People with diabetes have to manage their condition daily. The Diabetes PATH workshop is for people who want to take control of their health and decrease their risk of getting diabetes complications.”

The sessions, which will be two hours long each Thursday, will introduce diabetes self-management tools such as a healthy diet, exercise, goal setting, monitoring, stress management, understanding emotions, avoiding complications and medication, Demitz said.

It also offers an opportunity for connection, she said.

“The series brings together people who have something in common: diabetes. The real magic of the workshop comes from participants sharing experiences and helping one another find solutions to common problems when living with diabetes,” Demitz said.

Due to a partnership with the Lions Club International, MSU Extension is able to offer the online series to participants free of charge, and the workshop will be open to all Michigan residents, she said.

“The workshop is interactive; participants share their thoughts and experiences related to diabetes. Participants realize they are not alone in some of the feelings and challenges they face because of diabetes,” Demitz said. “Participants help each other problems-solve around topics such as dealing with difficult emotions, healthy eating and communicating with your healthcare provider.”

The deadline to register for the series is June 18. For more information or to register, visit https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/online-diabetes-path-series.

Jackie Jahfetson can be reached at jjahfetson@miningjournal.net.