Dining with Diabetes is a program designed for people with diabetes and their family members. This is a three-class series that includes learning how to manage diabetes and how to prepare healthy meals that help the diabetic control their blood sugar.
County UT Extension educators deliver the Dining with Diabetes Program in collaboration with other county health care professionals. Community awareness about diabetes is increased through media activities conducted by UT Extension educators. These professionals serve as health messengers who promote the educational programs and resources available to diabetics in their communities and disseminate diabetes information to persons with diabetes and their caregivers. All of UT Extension’s educational activities support the goals and educational messages of the, and of the National Diabetes Education Program, and the American Diabetes Association.
The objectives of the program include:
- Enhance knowledge about healthy food choices for the diabetic diet
- Understand the importance of managing their diabetes
- Learn healthy versions of familiar foods
- Use proper cooking techniques for such products as artificial sweeteners, reduced-fat replacers, and herbs and spices
- Get motivated to make specific changes by taste-testing new recipes
- Recognize that University of Tennessee Extension educators can provide basic information about diabetes and nutrition in partnership with health professionals in their communities
- Share and learn from one another
- Have fun and learning new eating skills
What Dining with Diabetes isn’t:
- Does not replace diabetes counseling delivered by a qualified health professional
- Does not provide individualized meal plans for participants
- Does not provide individualized goals for calories, carbohydrates, fat and sodium