(Midway City) - Diabetes, which affects nearly one of every five Americans 65 years of age and older, will be the subject of a free community education program on Wednesday, April 4 at the Midway City Community Center, 14900 Park Lane.

Speakers for "Diabetes and the Older Adult" will include pharmacist Daniel Ketchum of Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA) Older Adult Services and registered nurse Jane Hannah of HCA's Preventive Health Care for the Aging program. Topics for the one-hour program, which begins at 12 p.m., will include an overview of diabetes mellitus, its symptoms, and risk factors. Other topics will include the diagnosis and control of diabetes, prevention of long-term complications, the importance of monitoring blood sugar, and new Medicare coverage of monitoring supplies. An update on medications, including drugs under development, will be provided along with information on community diabetes resources.

The free program is sponsored by the Midway City Community Center, along with HCA's Older Adult Services and Preventive Health Care for the Aging programs. For more information, please call the center at (714) 898-0203.