Dining with Diabetes is a program
offered for people with type 2 diabetes
and their family members
to help identify and understand some of
the most important
things about managing and 
preventing diabetes
one of the things that you really
want to try to avoid in having diabetes
is the risk of complications
down the road 
so hopefully by
improving biomarkers and
learning how best to care for themselves
they reduce the risk of developing
those complications
registered dietitians or certified
diabetes educators
lead discussions addressing
important health numbers that people
with diabetes need to know
planning healthy meals
physical activity
and healthy food preparation
one of the unique things about the
program is the cooking
demonstrations
so my goal
is to give them food that looks good
tastes good
is not going to require
a lot of time in the kitchen
and makes a nice plate representation
as well as being nutritious
each class offers ideas to take home
and discussions regarding reality based
practical and understandable approaches
to living with diabetes
the fact that people usually get
together in non institutional
settings
and it's a very comfortable place for
them to be
they tend to build strong social support
and so there's that
very special aspect in fact when the program
finishes most people don't want it to end
the dining with diabetes program has
also been effective in helping family
members
who are at increased risk for diabetes
to reduce their risk
of developing the disease
after taking the course they
finally feel like they
have better understanding of diabetes
and what to do to care for it
i think it's going to make
my whole family healthier
i like having it with people that are
suffering the same thing i am
it gives me the feeling i'm not alone
we'll be able to see the grand kids
grow up a little longer and do more
activities with them
having a healthy lifestyle is the most
important thing to me
and this has been a motivating factor
in my life
Dining with diabetes gives participants the 
information they need
to control their diabetes
and not let diabetes control them
