/ News / BCHC Celebrates Completion of Diabetic Education Class

July 17, 2025 11:16 am Published by
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Berks Community Health Center (BCHC) recently offered a four-week class on Diabetic Education for our patients, funded through a grant from the Berks County Community Foundation (BCCF). The goal of this class was to educate patients with diabetes with the tools and knowledge to take charge of their health.

The class included topics such as:

*How to solve specific problems for those living with diabetes face.

*What diabetes is, how it affects your body and what different medicines people with diabetes may take.

*The health risks of diabetes and ways you can lower those risks.

*How to check your blood sugar and what the numbers mean.

*Practical tips on how to eat healthy and exercise.

This class was facilitated by BCHC CRNP Jessica Conner and Certified Community Health Worker (CCHW), Karen Villavicencio (Karen is also a Diabetic Community Care Coordinator (DCCC)). The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with one patient saying: “I have had diabetes for sixteen years. . . I came across this very educative and highly encouraging program. I have been enlightened and encouraged especially in: Diet, Exercise, Hygiene…A big thank you to the team and well done.”

The class was bilingual, with another patient testifying:

“Yo pensé que esta clase es muy importante. Aprendemos como cuidarnos. Nuestra consejera junto con la doctora nos ayuda bastante y es muy importante porque están muy pendiente de cada uno de nosotros. Es muy importante este programa y le doy gracias.”

(“I thought this class was very important. We learned how to take care of ourselves. Our counselor, along with the doctor, helped us a lot, and it was very important because they were very attentive to each of us. This program was very important, and I am grateful for it.”)

We are proud of the work Jessica and Karen did in leading this class and we are grateful for BCCF’s support. Most of all, we are glad that the participants found the class helpful and were empowered to take positive steps in living healthy as they live with diabetes. This is summed up in the patient who said,

“Gracias a estas clases aprendí de cómo llevar una vida saludable. Aprendí como comer, como ser responsable con mis medicamentos, y mi comida. Gracias Jessica y Karen por el apoyo hacia nuestra persona. Gracias.”

(“Thanks to these classes, I learned how to lead a healthy life. I learned how to eat, how to be responsible with my medications, and how to eat. Thank you, Jessica and Karen, for your support. Thank you.”)