TAVARES — The Lake County Extension is offering the Small Steps, Big Rewards Diabetes Prevention Program in October and November at the Lake County Agricultural Center, located at 1951 Woodlea Road in Tavares.

The three-part series will help people at risk for type 2 diabetes learn small steps to take to prevent or delay the disease. Participants should plan on attending all three of the classes in the series. The series will be offered on Oct. 13, 20 & 27 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and will be repeated on Nov. 3, 10 & 17 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Pre-registration is required and there is a $10 program materials fee. Participants may bring a spouse or partner for no additional program fee.

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all ages and ethnicities. Complications from diabetes include amputations, kidney damage, blindness, heart disease and stroke. Studies show that people at high risk for the disease can prevent or delay the onset of diabetes by making modest lifestyle changes such as losing a small amount of weight by following a low-fat, low-calorie meal plan and getting 30 minutes of physical activity five times per week.

The program is presented by Julie England, an extension agent with University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Lake County Extension. Pre-registration is required. To register, call Rene Bass at (352) 343-4101 or e-mail rcbass@ufl.edu. Small Steps, Big Rewards is a diabetes prevention plan developed by the National Diabetes Education Program.