Free program offers practical tools, nutrition guidance and support for managing diabetes

This June, the Southern Nevada Health District’s Office of Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion will expand access to diabetes education by launching its first virtual self-management classes in Spanish. Led by trained health educators, the free classes provide participants with practical strategies to manage diabetes, build healthier habits and lower the risk of serious health complications.

The virtual Spanish-language classes will be held via Microsoft Teams on June 22 and 29 from 10 a.m. to noon. Attendance at both sessions is required. The Health District also continues to offer virtual diabetes self-management classes in English, with upcoming classes set for June 3, 10 and 17 from 10 a.m. to noon. Classes are also open to people with prediabetes or at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes, as well as caregivers for people with type 2 diabetes. To register for the Spanish-language classes, go to Spanish Classes Registration Form. To register for English-language virtual or in-person classes, call (702) 759-1270 or complete the Diabetes Self-Management Interest Form.

“Managing diabetes can be challenging, but education and support can make a meaningful difference in a person’s health,” said Dr. Cassius Lockett, District Health Officer for the Health District. “By offering these classes virtually and in Spanish, we are helping more members of our community gain access to the tools, resources and guidance they need to take control of their health and reduce their risk of serious complications.”

Diabetes affects millions of Americans and is linked to several serious long-term health conditions. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in the United States in 2024. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also identifies diabetes as a leading cause of kidney failure, lower-limb amputations and adult blindness.

More than 40 million people in the United States have diagnosed diabetes, including 11 million people who are undiagnosed. Each year, an estimated 1.5 million Americans are newly diagnosed with diabetes.

In Clark County, approximately 238,000 people — 12.8% of the adult population — were living with diabetes. Statewide, an estimated 304,000 Nevada adults (11.9%) were diagnosed with the condition. Diabetes prevalence in Clark County was higher among multiracial (26.1%), Hispanic (15.3%), and Black (11.9%) adults compared with white adults (10.2%). Similar disparities were observed in Clark County for prediabetes, with higher prevalence among Hispanic (19.1%) and Black (16.7%) adults compared to White adults (15.4%).

The American Diabetes Association estimates that about 816,000 Nevada adults — roughly 1 in 3 — are living with prediabetes, placing them at increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes if the condition is not identified and addressed. However, many people with prediabetes remain undiagnosed.

Early screening and healthy lifestyle changes, including increased physical activity, improved nutrition and modest weight loss when appropriate, can help prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes. Self-management education programs can also help individuals better manage their condition and overall health.

The Health District’s Office of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion offers diabetes self-management and prevention classes throughout the year at the Main Public Health Center, 280 S. Decatur Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89107, and online.

To learn more about diabetes resources in Southern Nevada, go to Get Healthy Clark County | Local Diabetes Resources or Viva Saludable | Recursos Locales para la Diabetes. For information about additional classes, events and programs offered by the Health District, visit the Get Healthy Clark County Community Calendar.