Schneck Family Care plans to present a free program to raise awareness about the complications of diabetes.

“Spain: Your Adventure Against Diabetes” will be presented from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Christie’s on the Square in Salem.

This program will help you learn about the symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment of diabetes. It also is a starting point for discussing and creating a health and wellness plan with your physician.

“Diabetes can be avoided or managed with simple changes to your diet and exercise routine. A diabetes diagnosis today doesn’t have the same implications that it did even 10 years ago. You can work to feel better and improve your health, reducing the risk for additional complications,” said featured speaker Dr. Judy Rumschlag, Schneck Family Care physician.

Diabetes is a disease in which the body makes too much or not enough insulin, affecting the amount of blood glucose in the body.

According to 2012 data from the American Diabetes Association, 29.1 million Americans or 9.3 percent had diabetes. Of that number, approximately 8 million were undiagnosed. More than 86 million Americans over the age of 20 were diagnosed with pre-diabetes in that same time frame. That means more than one-third of the American population had or was at an increased risk for diabetes in 2012.

Individuals with diabetes also are at a higher risk for other health complications, such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, stroke, blindness and eye problems, kidney disease and limb amputations.

To make your reservation, contact the Schneck Foundation by calling 812-524-4244.