Success StoryLiving Well With Diabetes



Living Well With Diabetes

Author: Rita Stewart

Planning Unit: Lincoln County CES

Major Program: Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices (general)

Plan of Work: Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices & Accessing Nutritious Foods

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 11% of adults in Kentucky have diabetes and 34% of adults ages 19 years and over were obese in 2016.  29.8% of adults ages 18 years and over also reported no leisure-time exercise in the past month.  In order to empower participants to take better control of their own health, this Family and Consumer Sciences Agent has taught families to improve health and well-being by choosing a nutritious diet, increasing health literacy to help prevent chronic diseases, or participating in regular physical activity.   This agent partnered with the Lincoln County Health Department to offer a Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support Class.  This was an eight hour class designed to teach participants about diabetes and how to best manage while maintaining a busy lifestyle.  Topics discussed included physical activity, portion control, reading food labels, preparing foods, medications, and much more.  This agent was involved in the planning and advertising of the program, coordinated and taught the foods and nutrition component of the class, and provided the meeting room space.  As a result of this program, one participant has continued to attend the diabetes support group monthly and with weight loss has been able to reduce his medications. Another participant is working on meal planning by eating some of the new foods we introduced, by decreasing overall portion sizes, and by eliminating sweet beverages. This agent also taught a diabetes support group meeting, emphasizing chair exercises and the importance of physical activity in chronic disease management.  One participant is continuing to be physically active and working to better control his blood glucose levels.  Together, we are making a difference in the lives of others.






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