The Henderson County Diabetes Coalition is made up individuals that either have diabetes, are health professionals such as local hospital dieticians, health department, pharmacist, community college nursing department, radio station, local restaurant owner, and community volunteers.  The Henderson County Diabetes Coalition conducts diabetes awareness and prevention through educational programs, marketing efforts by radio, newspaper and billboards.  The group provides diabetes education classes, support group meetings, free screenings, emergency assistance and diabetes preventive counseling.   The Family and Consumer Sciences Agent conducts diabetes classes once a year for the support group that averages 25 participants.  Participants receive cooking tips, recipes, tastings, and portion control information.   Partnering with the Henderson County Diabetes Coalition, Taking Control of You Diabetes was taught in the Fall and Spring for the last 3 years.  The Family and Consumer Sciences Agent along with a registered dietitian and certified diabetes nurse teach twelve lessons that are evidence based and uses the stage of change theory to bring on behavior change.  

Approximately 4,000 Henderson County residents have diabetes and one fourth of them do not even know that they have it.  In 2019 a total of 266 individuals have been screened.   Individuals that have needed emergency patient assistance was forty-eight with a total cost of $220.10.   Since 2011, $1,490,792 has been donated prescriptions for diabetics in Henderson County.  The coalition offers a fundraiser every year to raise money to go back into helping citizens with diabetes along with donations grants that have been accepted and money from   individuals in the community.   This year we had a total income of $15,252.91.    The Henderson County Diabetes Coalition also markets by billboards in town reaching 62,349 individuals weekly, radio reaching around 20,000 individuals each recording with airing 1,412 times.  The Henderson County Diabetes Coalition made sure to attend community events and activities reaching 1355 contacts.  Partnering with the Extension Service with the Taking Ownership of Your Diabetes classes in April 2019 there was a total of 65 attendees.   

In January a planning meeting took place to decide what the community needs are and how to meet those.   It was decided to continue the diabetes education programs but to revamp some based on participants needs.  We have also changed the Diabetes Support Group name to Tips and Tastings to try to draw more individuals to attend.  We want to make this a fun event as well as having an educational component.  Each month we plan to have a food to sample and some recipes available.  The group is working on a diabetes resource guide for the community.  We will continue to offer assistance to those who need help paying for their medicine and supplies.