Dining With Diabetes ~ Northeast Ohio/Greater Cleveland Area

[Molly53]

Dining with Diabetes: A Community Education Program
Dining with Diabetes is a program conducted by Ohio State University Extension and the Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland. This program helps individuals learn strategies to manage their diabetes through menu planning, carbohydrate counting, portion control, label reading and taste testing healthy recipes.

What is Dining with Diabetes?
•A program designed for people with diabetes and their family members.
•A series of three classes that includes learning how to manage your diabetes. Topics include: Carbohydrates and sweeteners; Fats and sodium; Vitamins, minerals and fiber
•Cooking demonstrations and recipe samples.
•There is no charge to enroll, however you must plan to attend all three sessions.
•Guest speakers on health related topics and community gardening information.
•Participants receive a notebook with diabetes reference information, healthy recipes and product samples.

Who Can Participate?
People with diabetes and their family members, caregivers or support persons, or someone who is concerned about developing the disease.

Program Goal
To empower people with diabetes with self-care skills needed to control their diabetes.

Objectives:
After attending Dining with Diabetes participants will:
1. Understand the importance of managing their diabetes.
2. Enhance their knowledge of healthy food choices.
3. Use proper cooking techniques for such products as artificial sweeteners reduced fat products and herbs and spices.
4. Share and learn from one another.
5. Understand how to prepare foods safely.
6. Be informed of other community resources
7. Learn healthy ways to prepare familiar foods.

Program Evaluation
Participants will be asked to complete a pre- and post-test knowledge, attitude and behavior questionnaire. A three-month follow evaluation will be mailed to participants to track ongoing behavior changes related to food safety, weight loss, use of healthy recipes, and positive changes related to portion control, counting carbohydrates, using less sugar and salt in cooking and using the Plate Method.

Who are the Instructors?
•OSU Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Educator
•Mary Ann Nicolay, [e-mail], DTR, Health Educator, Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland
•Student interns provide support from the University of Akron, Dietetic Program; Case Western Reserve School of Public Health Nutrition; and the Dietetic Technology Program at Cuyahoga Community College
What Dining with Diabetes Is Not:
•Does not replace diabetes counseling you may already be in with your health care professional
•Does not provide individualized meal plans for participants
•Does not provide individualized goals for calories, carbohydrates, fat and sodium
What Dining with Diabetes Is:
A community education program designed to:
•Offer a social environment conducive for developing new knowledge and skills through interactive cooking demonstrations and tasting of foods.
•Build self-efficacy through social support of others - participants and instructors.

Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland (DAGC):
DAGC’s mission is to improve the lives of people affected by diabetes by leading the Northeast Ohio community in its prevention, management and care for diabetes. Visit their website at www.dagc.org.

Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland
3601 South Green Road Suite 100
Cleveland, Ohio 44122
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

[Andi of Longmeadow Farm]

Wonderful post! Thanks! I hope folks will take advantage of this if you live in the area....

[lauralie41]

I'm not in Ohio but wish I were! Great info Molly thank you!