Mercy Medical Center hosts program about Service Dogs for children with diabetes

Want to learn more about how Service and Assistance Dogs can be trained to help kids with diabetes? Mercy Medical Center in Canton, OH will host a special program titled "Understanding Diabetes and the Role of an Alert Service Dog" from 6-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17, at the hospital's Ambulatory Care Center Auditorium.

Diabetes alert service dogs are trained to identify the onset of hypoglycemia in people with insulin-dependent diabetes.

Sandy Finlayson, her six-year-old son Curtis, and their yellow laborador Taulb will be the special guests.

Diabetes, a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, affects approximately 21 million children and adults in the United States, according to the American Diabetes Association. Mercy's Outpatient Diabetes Education Program offers free adult and pediatric support groups, individual instruction from a nurse and dietitian, group class education and community events including an annual diabetes awareness health fair. Diabetes support groups offer men, women and children living with diabetes and their family members a supportive environment to learn more about how to manage the disease and cope with everyday issues.

Mercy's Diabetes Support Groups are free, but reservations are required. For more information or reservations, please call Mercy's Healthcare Connection at 330-489-1333 or 1-800-223-8662.

For more information about Mercy Outpatient Diabetes Education, call Debra Shaw, RN, BSN, CDE, diabetes education coordinator, at 330-489-1484.

Mercy Medical Center, a nonprofit corporation of the Sisters of Charity Health System and University Hospitals Health System, operates a 476-bed hospital serving Stark, Carroll, Wayne, Holmes and Tuscarawas Counties and parts of Southeastern Ohio. It has 550 physicians on its Medical Staff and employs 2,500 people. Mercy operates outpatient health centers in Carrollton, Jackson Township, Lake Township, Louisville, North Canton, Plain Township and Tuscarawas County. A Catholic hospital, Mercy Medical Center upholds the mission and philosophy of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine and continues to be responsive to the needs of the community, including the provision of care to all, regardless of their ability to pay.

You can also follow Mercy Medical Center on Twitter @SOCHealthSystem