This program is targeted to diabetics or those at risk for diabetes and their caregivers, but it is also helpful to anyone interested in diabetes or friends and family of a diabetic.

Topics

• food choice
• diet planning
• healthy cooking
• portion control
• medical indicator awareness
• healthy activity levels for those with diabetes

Participants also have the opportunity to watch food preparation presentations and taste test as well as take copies of recipes home with them.

This multi-session program was designed by Professor William Evers and a team of county Extension educators to educate participants on practical ways to lessen the health risk posed by diabetes. It is currently being revised for use in mid 2009. During a two year period (2004-2006), the program was presented 59 times in 32 counties to 841 people. Generally, four to five 2-hour lessons are taught weekly with an optional follow-up lesson.

Evaluation

Statistical analysis of this program revealed that participants:

• feel more empowered and confident that they can take good care of their diabetes or the diabetes of a loved one
• exercised more
• ate more fruits and vegetables
• checked blood sugar levels more often
• practiced more healthy diet habits after the program when compared to pre-program habits

Eleven questions on the pre-post test also queried the participant’s knowledge of foods and healthy food choice. Participants demonstrated a significant gain in knowledge with a pre-program score of 6.5 and a post-program score of 7.5.