Expenses including doctor visits, prescription medication, counseling and so much more can eventually add up.

For free, Healthy Management Diabetes Education (HMDE) strives to help people learn about diabetes by teaching them, through science-based evidence, how to optimize their health.

HMDE is a free program for anyone who wants to take a class or attend a symposium.

The nonprofit organization will hold one of their free diabetes education symposiums Jan. 24 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Rancho Springs Medical Center at 25500 Medical Center Drive in Murrieta.

"This is a chance for those with this manageable condition to connect with others," said Kaishawn McDuffie, president and CEO of HMDE.

Having family members with diabetes, McDuffie understands firsthand the importance of patient education.

By offering people diabetes education for free, the organization may ease at least one medical cost.

The medical center does not charge McDuffie to hold these symposiums in their conference room, and event speakers volunteer their time, which also helps to offer these services for free.

Although McDuffie does not get outside funding for her support groups or symposiums and does not pay herself, she said, "My husband has allowed me to do what I am supposed to do, and I volunteer my time."

Abiding by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) standards of living, McDuffie stays up-to-date on new medical trends and also promotes established ways of managing this disease.

The registered nurse and certified diabetes educator counsels people on incorporating healthy eating and physical activity into their lives and understanding how their medications work and how to monitor their blood glucose to avoid the risk of complications.

She also offers affective emotional support.

"We want to educate the entire community on diabetes awareness," said McDuffie. "The symposiums are an added bonus. Most doctors don’t have time to educate their patients. It also gives patients a chance to ask questions."

The panel of speakers consists of local doctors and specialists as well as some from the San Diego area.

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Ace Hardware - Temecula will include endocrinologist Dr. Timothy Bailey, pharmacist Michael Bosse, dietician Joyce Berenson, dental hygienist Robert Stackman and marriage and family counselor Mitchell Rosen.

Bosse, for example, is the CEO and founder of a new pharmacy called A1c Rx in San Diego County, one of the first pharmacies to serve an exclusively diabetic clientele.

"Diabetes affects different organs in the body," said McDuffie. "That’s why we have specialists come in."

She said this year she had to reinvent herself.

Verizon has been gracious enough to fund the HMDE Web site. During the symposium McDuffie will launch her new online educational videos.

"The videos will help people get the information they need right away, because it is important for them to take immediate action once they are diagnosed," she said.

With McDuffie’s organization, she will also go to corporations with the Winning at Work project in which she will give presentations to employees during their lunch breaks or at other convenient times during their work day.

She said employers need to back up their employees by keeping them healthy.

McDuffie emphasized that her support groups connect patients in a way that reminds them they are not alone.

"A person having diabetes might think they are the only one to have blood sugar over 140," she said. "They can meet other people who have had high blood sugar too. It gets them talking. They realize they are normal.

"Maybe they ate too much. Stress can make [blood sugar levels] go up. They realize they can take care of themselves. It’s like a reminder, too, because we can all forget things."

The third Wednesday of every month McDuffie holds a free support group at Dr. Thomas LoBue’s office on California Oaks Road in Murrieta.

Free monthly HDME support groups can be found in Corona and Hemet as well.

For more information about HMDE programs, events, donations or sponsorships, or to register for the free symposium, visit www.hmde.org or call (951) 660-5547.