According to the American Diabetes Association, 13.6% of Kentucky’s population is diagnosed with diabetes. It is estimated that over 100,000 individuals in Kentucky do have diabetes but are undiagnosed. Annual diabetes costs in Kentucky are $5.2 billion. The Kentucky Public Health organization reported in 2020 that the Big Sandy Region in Kentucky has a prevalence of diabetes of 18.5%. This is the second highest area in the state.

In efforts to educate those already diagnosed with diabetes and assist in food insecurities, Appalachian Regional Healthcare reached out to the Floyd County Family & Consumer Sciences Program in Spring 2022. The Director of Community Development knew of the Family and Consumer Sciences’ program, “Dinner for Two” success and wanted to partner with Floyd Family & Consumer Sciences to mimic the program but relate it more to those with diabetes.

Floyd County Family & Consumer Sciences work with Appalachian Regional Medical Center’s Community Development department and Diabetes Education to create a program that introduced new fruits and vegetables to their diets as well as overall health education.

After months of planning, the program, Diabetes Support Group officially began in August 2022 and has continued as a monthly program. When participants arrive, they are given the opportunity to check their A1C’s provided by Big Sandy Healthcare. When the program begins, the Diabetes Education Program does a brief Question and Answer session. Then there will be a special guest speaker. Speakers have ranged from cardiovascular specialists to hearing aid companies. Once the speaker is finished, Floyd County Family and Consumer Sciences demonstrates the diabetes friendly recipe of the month to the participants. Recipes are selected from the Family and Consumer Sciences and Nutrition Education program resources. Participants receive a food box that includes the recipe and all the ingredients to make the recipe at home.

The Diabetes Support Group originally started in Floyd and Johnson County but is now featured and virtually broadcasted at all ARH locations. A total of 417 individuals have participated in this program and one individual has lower their A1C two points as a result of learning simple lifestyle changes and healthy practices from the program.