Diabetes is a common, serious, and costly disease in Kentucky. Data from the Kentucky Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey 2017 (BRFSS) reported that diagnosed diabetes among adults has more than doubled from 6.5% (198,052) to the current rate of 13.4% (458,381). Based on data from CDC, an additional 152,793 adult Kentuckians are estimated to be living with undiagnosed diabetes. Kentucky has the 4^th highest diabetes mortality rate in the nation. In Kentucky, diabetes is the 6^th leading cause of death by disease overall, and 5th leading cause of death by disease for African Americans (2015) (Kentucky Diabetes Prevalence 2015 KY Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey). Diabetes is associated with complications that threaten both length and quality of life such as ketoacidosis, blindness, kidney failure, lower-limb amputation, and heart disease and stroke. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) estimates that diabetes cost Kentucky $3.85 billion in total medical costs, lost work and wages.

The good news is that diabetes is controllable with proper diet and lifestyle changes. Specially type 2 diabetes, can be prevented or managed with nutrition education and physical activity inclusions in daily life. Achieving this, however, is a complex thing requiring the collective efforts of healthcare providers, dietitians and nutritionists, exercise experts, individuals with diabetes, technology resources, and cooperation from family members, friends and community.

Considering this, Extension Associate at Kentucky State University, Ms. Nilima Mishra, nutritionist and physical activity promoter, developed Diabetes Nutrition Education program material. A session was conducted to spread awareness about taking care of one’s blood sugar levels and keep diabetes away. This is becoming more and more difficult with current food and lifestyle habits.

The session on ‘diabetes management nutrition education’, was organized at Anderson Adult Education Learning center, Lawrenceburg, Anderson County. This was done with the help of SNAP-Ed assistant in the county. Six adults attended the session. Two of them were diabetic, two had family history of diabetes. One participant wanted to know the nutrition management, as one of her parent has borderline sugar levels. The session started with an icebreaker activity ‘Guess right or wrong quiz’, giving handy tips on diabetes management. An informative PowerPoint lesson on ‘Nutrition and exercise for keeping blood sugar levels in control’ was conducted. The importance of eating whole grain pasta, whole wheat bread and brown unpolished rice, instead of refined grain regular pasta, white bread and white rice in diabetes was explained. They were told how whole grain food will have more amount of fibers in them helping slow release of sugar and keeping blood sugar levels in control. The idea of simple and complex carbohydrates, portion size control, meal spacing, and eating 4-5 small meals than having 3 large meals was explained. A sample healthy recipe of ‘Whole wheat pasta salad’ was demonstrated. The recipe was done using lots of vegetables, black beans (protein) and whole wheat pasta. The handouts for the recipe was distributed and health benefits of the ingredients used were explained to participants.

 Participants were very interactive, involved and interested in knowing how to keep blood sugar levels in control with small diet changes and including as little as 30 minutes physical activity of their choice, in the daily routine. Participants asked many questions and shared their experiences.

One of the participants, an old lady said she likes to eat pasta a lot but she cannot do that as she is diabetic and should not be eating carbs. She was overwhelmed when she could eat small portion of the sample recipe of ‘whole wheat pasta salad’, loaded with lots of vegetables. She hugged and thanked for letting her know that she could eat her favorite pasta, if it’s whole grain, adding lots of vegetables in it and eating a small portion at a time. She was suggested to confirm this with a registered dietitian (R D) and her doctor. Next time she will be asked for a feedback about changes she made in her diet and lifestyle and if she is enjoying her favorite pasta still keeping her blood sugar in control J

At the end of the session, everyone assured to make some simple changes in their food habits, eating healthy, small meals and do some physical activity, as many days of the week as possible.

 If we can bring change and happiness, in the life of even a small number of people, maybe just one person at a time, driving them to live healthy life, we have our small success story!