News

Living With Diabetes

The American Diabetes Association estimates that more than 20.8 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes. With this number increasing every day, community-based educational programs to assist those living with the disease are more important than ever.

One such effort is Dining with Diabetes, a program for individuals with diabetes and their families. The four-session program teaches participants how to reduce sugar, salt, and fat in recipes without abandoning taste and includes a demonstration of food preparation and a taste testing.

“The nutrition education we provide in Dining with Diabetes could apply to anyone, but someone with diabetes must pay special attention to diet,” says Stephanie Diehl, family and consumer sciences Extension agent in Rockingham County who leads the program in her five-county area. “When family members participate in the program together, those with diabetes make changes to their diet more readily, and they take a whole-family approach.”

The food demonstration portion of Dining with Diabetes adds a great deal to the program because participants have a chance to taste low-sugar, low-carbohydrate foods instead of just reading about them in a cookbook. According to Diehl, participants are more likely to add new, healthy recipes into their own meal plans when they have had an opportunity to taste the foods.

This approach also engages participants in a way that a traditional, lecture-style class doesn’t. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. By the end of the sessions, most class members felt confident about preparing healthy meals for someone with diabetes. Most also used monounsaturated oils at home and more herbs and spices instead of salt.

“I left with a better idea of portion sizes,” a participant recalls. “My doctor had put me on a 1,500 calorie diet without explaining portions. What I learned in this class has helped me better control my blood sugars.”

Dining with Diabetes is not the only Extension program addressing this issue. Debbie Jones, assistant professor of public health at Virginia State University and health promotion specialist for Virginia Cooperative Extension, partnered with a health center in Petersburg to offer a free six-session diabetes self-management training course that emphasizes not only proper nutrition but also exercise.

“In our program, we make sure participants are aware of the bigger picture of living with diabetes,” Jones says.

Like Dining with Diabetes, Jones’ program ends with a taste testing. She also stresses the importance of physical activity in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

“Whether you are living with diabetes or not, you should do 30 minutes of exercise on most days, and this can be as simple as walking,” Jones says. She adds that physical activity helps the body use glucose more effectively.