Katherine A. French
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Back by popular demand, Penn State Cooperative Extension is offering a low-cost series of classes, “Dining with Diabetes: A Program for Adults with Diabetes and their Families,” to teach those with type 2 diabetes how to manage their disease.
Each class taught by a registered dietitian and a chef offers important information to help manage diabetes, food demonstrations and tasting, and ideas for increasing physical activity. The series consists of four weekly classes plus one follow-up class two months later. Each participant in the program will receive educational materials, recipes, fitness DVD, pedometer and a stretch band. Two finger-prick lab tests will be offered to measure hemoglobin A1C, lipids, and measuring blood pressure and waist circumference.
We take these measurements because we want participants to know their health-related numbers. Knowing these numbers is critical in helping them to manage their diabetes.
The cost for the series of classes is $35 for an individual or $50 if the individual decides to bring their significant other or anyone who is responsible for the meal planning in the household. The fee includes all educational materials, lab tests and food taste tests. The program is valued at $120, so the $35 fee is a great bargain.
Two upcoming Dining with Diabetes series will be conducted. Both series will be held on Wednesdays, Sept. 22 and 29 and Oct. 6 and 13. One series will be held in the morning from 9:30 a.m. to noon. The second series will be held in the afternoon from 1:30 to 4 p.m. The classes will be held at the Penn State Cooperative Extension Office, 463 N. Perry Highway (Route 19) in Coolspring Township north of Mercer. For more information on the program, plan to attend an informational meeting at the same location. The informational meeting will be held Sept. 20 at 10 a.m. To reserve a seat at the informational meeting, call 724-662-3141, ext. 302. Register early as space is limited.
The “Dining with Diabetes” program is made possible by USDA funding and a grant from the Pa. Department of Health. Penn State also partnered with Joslin Diabetes Center, which is affiliated with Harvard Medical School.
Katherine A. French is a Mercer County Cooperative Extension educator and registered dietitian
