The Diabetes Center of Excellence will host a day for people to learn how to manage the disease.

The free “Diabetes Day Out” will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at First Christian Church, 1106 State St. Lunch will be provided by Sheldon’s Pharmacy. There will be vendors and door prizes. Registration is required and continues through Thursday. For more information, call the Diabetes Center for Excellence at 781-8039, ext. 119.

“Diabetes is in epidemic proportions. We provide self-management education. We strive to help patients learn to have good medical care and healthy lifestyles to lessen complications that come with diabetes,” said Diane Eakles, diabetes disease management coordinator for the Diabetes Center of Excellence, which is part of the Barren River District Health Department. “You can’t have a day off from diabetes, but you can have a day out. Join us for a day of food, fun and facts to help manage your diabetes.”

Speakers for “Diabetes Day Out” will include James M. Sutton of Southern Kentucky Oral Surgery Associates; Dr. Raphael Nwanguma of The Medical Center Surgical Weight Loss Center; Kevin Morris, a health coach at Total Fitness Connection; health department disaster preparedness coordinator Janarae Conway; and health department registered dietitian Megan Givan, who is also a licensed dietitian and certified diabetes educator.

“We have all sorts of classes. We have community-based classes that are group oriented,” Givan said. “We have a topic once a month. We have classes for the newly diagnosed or who need a refresher. We’re offering anything and everything on diabetes.”

The Diabetes Center of Excellence’s team consists of three registered dietitians, two registered diabetes educators, two registered nurses and a health educator. In addition to the group classes, there are also one-on-one classes to help patients manage diabetes.

“It’s important for all people to learn everything they can about the disease and the disease process,” Eakles said. “The more they know, the better they can take care of themselves, the better quality of life they will have.”

“Diabetes Day Out” is sponsored by local podiatrist Dr. Christopher Holland and the Save-A-Lot division of Houchens Industries.

For help with diabetes management, call 270-781-8039, ext. 186

— Alyssa Harvey covers features for the Daily News. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/bgdnfeatures or visit bgdailynews.com.