The Lakeland Comprehensive Weight Loss Center is offering a free seminar, “Lose Weight…Gain Health.”

The seminar will be presented at 6:30 p.m. on the following dates:

• Wednesday, Aug. 3, Lakeland Regional Medical Center, 1234 Napier Avenue, St. Joseph
• Wednesday, Aug. 24, Lakeland Comprehensive Weight Loss Center, 6 Longmeadow Village Drive, Suite 2, Niles

Dr. Michael Schuhknecht, one of Michigan’s most experienced bariatric surgeons, and staff members of the Lakeland Comprehensive Weight Loss Center will discuss programs available for losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight for years to come. The Lakeland Comprehensive Weight Loss Center specializes in working with each person to create a customized lifestyle plan, including medical weight loss management through diet or bariatric surgery, nutrition counseling, individualized exercise programs and monthly support groups.

Schuhknecht and Dr. Brian A. Bucina of Lakeland General Surgery in Niles will also be available at the “Ask a Doctor” booth during the Berrien County Youth Fair on Tuesday, Aug. 16, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Lakeland’s displays will be in booths 65-67 in Commercial Building 37.

For more information or to register for either the St. Joseph or Niles seminar, please call (269) 687-4673 or (877) 467-3858, or visit www.lakelandhealth.org/weightloss.

Lakeland will also host an advanced insulin management support group in St. Joseph

The Advanced Insulin Management (AIM) Support Group is designed for people with diabetes who are using insulin pumps or for those who take multiple daily insulin injections. The group will meet on Wednesday, Aug. 3, and the first Wednesday of each month thereafter, at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph. For additional information, contact the Lakeland Diabetes Education Program at (269) 927-5465 for St. Joseph or (269) 683-5510, ext. 5465 for Niles.

A free pre-diabetes class will be held in Niles. The free program is designed to help anyone with higher-than-normal blood sugar levels who is at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. This program does not require a physician referral and helps area residents change their lifestyles to delay — or avoid — the onset of diabetes.

The class will be held on Thursday, Aug. 4, from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles.

According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes is the biggest public health crisis of the 21st century. Nearly 24 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes, including 5.7 million people who have not yet been diagnosed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Each year, more than 1.6 million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed. In addition, another 57 million people are estimated to have pre-diabetes, a condition that increases the risk for diabetes. Early diagnosis of the disease is critical to successful treatment in order to delay or prevent complications such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, and kidney disease.

Pre-registration for this free pre-diabetes class is required. For more information or to register, call (269) 683-5510, ext. 5465, or visit www.lakelandhealth.org.