Hilo Medical Center launches diabetes course

HONOLULU (AP) – Hilo Medical Center says nine people have finished its new 10-week course on controlling diabetes.

The class teaches participants how to manage diabetes by improving nutrition, exercise and personal habits.

The hospital's Diabetes in Control program coordinator, Becky Stubbs, said in a statement Friday many people from Hilo have been flying to Oahu for diabetes education. Stubbs says offering the program in Hilo will save the community time and money.

Patricia Kamau, who graduated on Wednesday in the first group of students to finish the course, says she's not afraid of having diabetes anymore. She says she eats what she likes, but sparingly. Kamau says she's learned it's possible to live a long life with diabetes.