The Henderson County Diabetes Coalition is made up of individuals that either have diabetes, are health professionals or want to volunteer. This group conducts diabetes awareness campaigns through newspaper, billboards which average traffic is 92,917 weekly, radio PSA’s, television and presentations. The group meets monthly at the Extension Office. The group provides diabetes education classes and provides free screenings, emergency assistance and diabetes prevention counseling. Approximately 4,000 Henderson County residents have diabetes and one fourth of them do not even know that they have it. In 2017 forty six individuals have been assisted with emergency supplies and medications. Since 2011 $1,490,792 has been donated prescription for diabetics in Henderson. In 2017 a total cost of $10, 445.15 was donated in patient assistance program cost. The coalition offers a fundraiser every year to raise money to go back into helping citizens with diabetes along with donations made by individuals in the community. This year the fundraisers and grants raised $23,815.27. The FCS agent conducts diabetes classes once a year for the support group that averaged 20 participates. Participants receive recipes, tastings, and portion control information. A survey was conducted at the end of the presentation and 90% of the participants said that they would most likely use the recipes that were tried and given out. 

Partnering with the Henderson County Diabetes Coalition, Taking Control of Your Diabetes was taught in the Fall and Spring. The FCS Agent along with a registered dietitian and certified diabetes nurse taught 12 lessons that were evidence based and used the stages of change theory to bring on behavior change. 

The fall class had 23 participants and 17 of them had diabetes. Revisiting with one participant who came to learn for other family members has been practicing the diabetes heathy plate method and has lost over 60 lbs. Another participant stated that she felt the program was much more beneficial than the training provided by the hospital in regard to diabetes education. 17 individuals have learned to solve problems in their daily lives as they deal with their diabetes.