By Misty DeGroff ?letters to the editor
I just recently joined the diabetes prevention class that our health department offers as a free class. Recently, the instructor told us that May will be the last month of the class as the health department is not going to offer it any longer because the state is making cuts.
I have heard many testimonies from the people in this class about how much the class has helped them. Just between four people they have cut over $1200 in medical expenses and one lady lost over 130 pounds.
I feel the amount of money this class is saving our government in medical expenses outweighs what our health department pays for the four hours for the instructor. Everyone in the class is trying to do whatever they can to help save this class as well as the doctors. I think that in a county where many of the residents are overweight and on Medicare or Medicaid, this class is crucial in helping cut the costs on medical expenses our government is having to pay out for these people.
Misty DeGroff
Clearlake
