The American Diabetes Association is presenting their signature “Wellness Lives Here” next week.

The event will be held at Valencia Acura, 23955 Creekside Road in Valencia on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 at 8 a.m.

Business owners, human resource managers and other working professionals interested in supporting a healthy workplace environment are encouraged to attend the free breakfast event.

This free workplace engagement program provides employers an opportunity to amplify health and wellness messaging within their organization. The research-based tools and resources are designed specifically for the workplace and can be adapted to fit with existing wellness efforts.

“Wellness Lives Here” provides year-round opportunities that encourage healthy living behaviors through employee engagement, workplace exercise resources, online nutrition tools, and support for organizational and individual wellbeing. Fewer sick days and higher productivity have also been cited as benefits of the wellness changes made within organizations.

Businesses that implement the “Wellness Lives Here” program in the workplace are also eligible for a Corporate Health Champion designation. PDC/Brady Corporation was a local recipient in July. Other companies implementing the program include Nestlé USA, Kroger, Walgreens, Eli Lilly & Company, SoCal Gas Company, Staples, Safeway, and Boston Scientific.

Diabetes is a serious disease that strikes nearly 30 million Americans including 1 in 10 people. A quarter of those affected by diabetes are not aware that they have the disease. Recent estimates project that as many as one in three American adults will have diabetes in 2050 unless we take the steps to Stop Diabetes®.

Unfortunately, diagnosis often comes seven to 10 years after the onset of the disease, after disabling and even deadly complications have had time to develop. Therefore, early diagnosis is critical to successful treatment and delaying or preventing some of its complications, such as heart disease, blindness, kidney disease, stroke, amputation and death.

The primary risk factors for Type 2 diabetes are being overweight, sedentary, over the age of 45 and having a family history of diabetes. African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are at an increased risk for developing the disease.

Early intervention via lifestyle changes, such as weight loss and increased physical activity, can help delay or prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes.

For more information on workplace programs or to reserve a seat for the breakfast event, contact Laura Kirchhoff at LKirchhoff@diabetes.org or phone (323) 966-2890, ext. 7413.