The Florida Department of Health in Monroe County will host a monthlong slate of free diabetes education and prevention events across the Florida Keys this November, county health officials announced. The offerings include classroom-style education, individualized nutrition counseling and diabetes risk screenings, and are scheduled to take place in locations spanning the Upper, Middle and Lower Keys.

The program is open to all residents and visitors, and the department’s release notes that phone registration and additional contact information are available for those who wish to attend. By distributing sessions across the island chain, officials aim to reduce travel barriers and reach residents in neighborhoods that might otherwise lack easy access to preventive health services.

Diabetes education classes typically cover topics such as blood sugar monitoring, medication management, healthy eating, physical activity and preventing complications. Nutrition counseling provides personalized guidance to help people adjust meals and food choices in ways that support better glucose control. Risk screenings can identify individuals who may have prediabetes or undiagnosed diabetes and prompt timely referral to primary care or support services.

For Monroe County, a dispersed island geography and limited public transportation make local offerings especially valuable. Bringing free resources into communities throughout the Upper, Middle and Lower Keys increases the likelihood that older adults, shift workers, low‑income residents and others with constrained schedules or mobility will be able to participate. Early detection and education can reduce the need for emergency care and help residents avoid long‑term complications such as cardiovascular disease, kidney problems and vision loss.

The events also serve as an entry point to broader public health supports. Participants who learn they are at risk can be connected with ongoing local resources, including primary care clinics, chronic disease self‑management programs and nutritional assistance programs. Community partners such as clinics, senior centers and nonprofit organizations commonly collaborate with the health department on outreach efforts; spreading sessions across the Keys makes those partnerships more effective by meeting residents where they live.

Monroe County residents interested in attending should consult the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County’s public release for the full schedule, locations and phone registration details. Because the sessions are free and open to the public, they present an accessible option for anyone looking to understand their diabetes risk, learn practical management skills, or obtain counseling on healthier eating.

By prioritizing prevention and education with a geographically inclusive schedule, the county’s November events aim to lower barriers to care and strengthen community resilience against a chronic disease that affects quality of life and local health care resources.