While visiting a local farm last summer, Melanie Jaskulski’s 5-year-old daughter noticed a little girl wearing the same gluten-free alert bracelet as she was and ran to talk to her.

Monongahela Valley Hospital is sponsoring a variety of informative programs this month. Many of the events will be held in the hospital’s Anthony M. Lombardi Education Conference Center (ECC) unless otherwise noted.

Hiram Gonzalez, M.D., a surgeon at Monongahela Valley Hospital (MVH), will discuss MVH’s Weight Control and Wellness Program during a free education session on Thursday, December 15 at 6 p.m. in the hospital’s Anthony M. Lombardi Education Conference Center.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 29.1 million people or 9.3 percent of the population have diabetes in the United States. While 21 million of those people have been diagnosed, 8.1 million people remain undiagnosed. During November, Monongahela Valley Hospital (MVH) is offering a three-part diabetes series.