Southern Nevada Health District Launches Free Spanish Diabetes Classes for Latino Community

To help address the greater likelihood of developing diabetes among Latino families in Las Vegas, the Southern Nevada Health District provides no-cost Spanish-language diabetes self-management lessons for the community.  The program is designed for individuals with diabetes or pre-diabetes and emphasizes culturally and linguistically accessible education to support long-term health.

“We really want to reach our membership, and we certainly have a high percentage of Latinos living here in Las Vegas,” Earney said. Senior health educator Rayleen Earney noted that Spanish-speaking participants are 1.5 times more likely to develop diabetes, highlighting how language barriers can limit access to timely education and care.

The classes offer comprehensive education focused on managing diabetes and pre-diabetes. They offer information regarding nutrition, exercise, medications, and ways to prevent complications. “During our classes, we provide various education opportunities and resources when it comes to nutrition, physical activity, medications, and how to reduce diabetes complications,” said David Barragan, health educator.

Barragan explained that the curriculum uses practical, everyday tools to make healthy choices easier. The program also uses the MyPlate method and 9-inch dinner plates to illustrate portion size, along with tips for making balanced meals at home.

Family participation is strongly encouraged, as is walk-in access, so families can share the process of making lifestyle changes together as a team. “We want to make sure that even if they have pre-diabetes, that they get tested from their doctor and then they can come to class and learn how to manage better,” Earney said.

Participant experiences underscore the impact of the classes. “It helped a lot, but as Latinos, most of us suffer from diabetes due to the change of country and food,” Pinarua said in Spanish. “When we got here, we did a sudden change in our diet, our lives, and our activities, and I believe that all of that contributes to not developing diabetes,” he said.

The next Spanish-language class is scheduled for February, with registration available on the Southern Nevada Health District website.