The Buzz Around Wayne County

9 THE BUZZ AROUND WAYNE COUNTY JUNE 2026 1 in 3 Adults Has Prediabetes: 7 Signs You May Be at Risk By Billy Tart. DNP, RN Many people are surprised to learn that approximately 1 in 3 adults has prediabetes, a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Even more concerning, most people with prediabetes do not know they have it. You may be at increased risk for prediabetes or type 2 diabetes if you: 1. Are overweight or carry extra weight around your waist 2. Have a family history of type 2 diabetes 3. Have high blood pressure or high choles- terol 4. Are physically inactive 5. Have poor sleep or sleep apnea 6. Have a history of diabetes when you were pregnant 7. Are over age 45, especially with other risk factors The good news is that type 2 diabetes can often be prevented or delayed through healthy lifestyle changes such as weight loss, regular physical activity, healthier eating habits, improved sleep, and stress management. Early screening and awareness are im- portant because prediabetes often has no symptoms. Free diabetes risk screenings and prevention education opportunities are available in the community. To learn more about your risk and ways to prevent type 2 diabetes, contact Billy Tart, DNP, RN at billy.tartjr@unchealth.unc.edu or call 919-273-9675 to begin your journey to a healthier you! Gold-Wayne FSU Alumni Celebrating 70 Years! By Dorothy Hardy The Gold-Wayne Fayetteville State University Alumni Chapter will be celebrat- ing 70 years in existence in the Wayne County area. It was established in 1956 as the Wayne County FSU Alumni Chapter and renamed the Gold-Wayne FSU Alumni Chapter in 1996. The chapter is very proud of its ser- vice to the area by providing scholarships, partnering with Wayne County Public Schools as a PIE for Carver Heights and North Drive Elementary Schools, commu- nity service projects, and volunteering for special activities. The Gala will be hosted on June 6, 2026 in Walnut Creek Country Club at 6 pm. Early bird tickets @ $60 are now on sale until May 6th. Tickets will be $70 from May 7th until May 25th. No tickets will be sold at the door. Special FSU guest is Coach Chynna Hunt, 2026 CIAA Volleyball Championship coach, and music by Boby Davis. For more information, please contact: Dorothy Hardy, dhardyaka@gmail.com Just $60.00 More! By Jonathan Greeson,CFP® I receive government assis- tance because of my disabil- ity. My life goal is to get off of the system eventually. It is a great resource that helps many families, but the limita- tions can be disheartening. Recently, I was reviewed, which is like an audit on your life. They check everything from your bank account to your burial plot. No, I'm not exaggerating. Pikeville's town manager actually had to find the paperwork for our family plots. Of course, the case worker was just doing her job. She was professional and kind. Fortu- nately, I was approved for another year. My frustration is with the system itself. My case was flagged because my Social Security check increased by $5.00 per month. That extra $60.00 I'll receive in 2026, ironically paid by the system, almost kicked me off of the system! I've found many similarities between the benefit programs for seniors and the programs for people with disabilities. When you retire, do you want to live like this? Yes, by retirement planning, you'll probably not qualify for programs, like Medicaid. However, you could have what all Americans want; the freedom to choose. Imagine spend- ing your golden years enjoying life, setting your own schedule, and not worrying about your life being turned upside down because of an extra $60.00. Email me! Jonathan Greeson Financial Planning is located in Pikev- ille. For more information, visit www.jonathangreeson. com. Investment advisory services offered through Brook- stone Wealth Advisors, LLC (BWA), a registered investment advisor and an affiliate of Brookstone Capital Management, LLC. BWA and Jonathan Greeson Financial Planning are independent of each other. Insurance products and ser- vices are not offered through BWA but are offered and sold through individually licensed and appointed agents. OPENING DOORS Do You Have A Framework? By Matthew Whittle Last month I was invited to share a few thoughts with a group of about 30 eighth-graders. They turned out to be a wonderful audience, but man it was intimidated. But since I think it went pretty well, I thought I would share just a little of our conversation with you. The theme of the day was "building," so after we toured McNair Heights and talk about Habitat's work building homes, community and hope, we turned our focus on what it means to build a framework for life – a framework built on a foundation of serving and making an impact on others, that's made out of our strengths and the things we enjoy, but that's also flexible enough to adjust to changing environments and realities. And to help this hit home, I asked them – and now you – to write down a few things and reflect on them and maybe review them again in the future. • What do you enjoy doing right now? • Why do you do enjoy doing that thing? What is it that attracts you or gives you joy about doing it? • What do you see as your top three strengths right now? • What's one thing you're building right now that's making a positive impact on others? I think if you can answer those questions, you will start to see your framework taking shape.

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