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At 88, Annie Williams is one of the oldest Lowndes County residents participating in the DEEP program sponsored by the Lowndes County Extension Office.

Johnny Holcombe and Juanita Aaron learn about diabetes and life in the Lowndes County Extension Office’s DEEP class at the Hayneville Senior Center.

of Lowndes County Extension Office offers a six-session Diabetes Empowerment Education Program (DEEP) for community members.

Currently about a dozen seniors who visit the Hayneville Senior Center attend DEEP every Tuesday morning.

Each class lasts about an hour, said Tana Seeley, Extension Office Coordinator for Lowndes County. Depending on the specific topic and number of participants, it may run a little longer.

“Purpose [of DEEP] It’s about getting members of the community to participate in classes,” says Shealey. “And I hope they take what they learn back to their neighborhoods, churches, schools, wherever they come together to talk about diabetes with people.”

DEEP participants learn how to live with diabetes and develop skills they can use on their own and share with family and friends. Shealey says the program will dispel misconceptions about diabetes by teaching the truth about it.

“One of the big misconceptions is that people with diabetes can’t eat foods that contain sweeteners.” We recommend that you find out how many carbohydrates you need.

“It’s a great program because it’s fairly informal, and they can ask and answer questions.”

Instructors talk with participants about the importance of exercise and stress relief. One class also focused on the effects of stress on blood sugar levels and shared tips on how to have fun and relax.

According to Shealey, diabetes is one of the chronic diseases that many Lowndes County residents face. The Extension Office has his DEEP classes all over the county and at Mosses he just graduated one group.

Shealey said her office will come to churches, community groups, and wherever people want to learn more about a topic.

Hayneville Senior Center participants range in age from 68 to 88. Instruction is tailored to the needs of each group.

“A few [attendees] He is cared for by his family,” Shealey said. “We help patients understand what their doctors tell them to do and encourage them to have deep conversations with their doctors about self-care.”

The Lowndes Extension Office resembles a mobile classroom, designed to bring research developed at Auburn University and Alabama A&M University into the community.

Classes are available on a variety of topics including gardening, canning, financial information and food safety. Most are free and open to the public.

For more information, visit aces.edu/counties/Lowndes.