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    'Wise and Well' Program Helps Fight Heart Disease, Diabetes

    Cardiovascular disease and diabetes are common and dangerous threats to the health of older adults everywhere, according to Mills-Peninsula diabetes educator, Cindy Onufer, R.N.

    Yet, for many ethnically diverse and low-income older adults in San Mateo County, a program that offers free screenings and health education is making a difference, she said.

    "At our Wise and Well health screenings, we are able to identify hundreds of people whose blood pressure, cholesterol or blood glucose levels are too high, according to goals set by national guidelines," she said.

    Those results reinforce what health educators already know about conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes: Many people either are not treated according to national guidelines or are not aware of lifestyle changes that may improve their health.

    That's why people who participate in Wise and Well screenings are offered counseling by a nurse or dietitian and encouraged to share all screening results with their doctor, Onufer said.

    As coordinator of the Wise and Well program, Onufer makes monthly visits to local senior centers where many of the people identified in the screenings as high risk come back for regular blood pressure and blood glucose screening.

    "We continue to track results, follow up on recommended lifestyle and medication changes and give positive feedback on improvements."

    Funded by San Mateo County Aging and Adult Services and the Peninsula Health Care District, the Dr. Emanuel Friedman Wise and Well Program is now in its 10th year of operation, Onufer said.

    "The program has served more than 10,000 people with the aim of reducing risks of cardiovascular disease and diabetes," she said.

    All screenings and educational services, including one-on-one counseling and classes, are free for people age 55 and older or disabled. Educational materials are available in several languages.

    Pick up a Wise and Well calendar at the Wellness Center for more information regarding dates and locations of events.