The holiday season is approaching and that means some added challenges for those with diabetes. All those sugary foods and drinks served at parties and family gatherings are tempting but can sabotage efforts to manage weight and blood glucose.
Ohio State University Extension understands the struggle and is there to help in the way of education and support.
In Wayne County, our Extension Family and Consumer Sciences program is partnering with Wooster Community Hospital for a special one-session edition of the Dining with Diabetes Series called Taking Charge of Your Diabetes During the Holidays. The class is scheduled 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4, in the hospital’s outpatient pavilion. Cost is $10 per person, and registration is available by calling the hospital at 330-263-8196.
A registered dietitian from the hospital will join me to show you how to prepare holiday favorites that are both nutritious and delicious. You’ll get to taste some dishes prepared by the hospital’s chef and take home the recipes.
We’ll talk turkey and all the fixings and provide instructions on how to make “skinny” gravy as well as tips on how to make healthy modifications to popular dishes such as pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. We call it a “Dining with Diabetes Holiday Meal Makeover.”
We also will provide tips on how to lighten up the coffee shop drinks and make substitutions for popular holiday drinks such as punch and eggnog and talk about the importance of keeping exercise a part of your busy holiday schedule.
Sessions on taking charge, travel, stress, healthy sweets
As part of National Diabetes Awareness Month in November, OSU Extension’s Diabetes Team is presenting four 30-minute diabetes classes live online 12-12:30 p.m. Nov. 1, 8, 15 and 22. The sessions are:
- Nov. 1 – Take Charge of Diabetes during the Holidays
- Nov. 8 – Traveling With Diabetes Over the Holidays
- Nov. 15 – Stress and Diabetes
- Nov. 22 – Healthy Holiday Sweets and Treats
The classes are offered at no charge. To register and get the link, visit go.osu.edu/diabetesseries.
National Diabetes Month is a time when communities across the country seek to bring attention to diabetes. According to the National Institutes of Health, this year’s focus is taking action to prevent diabetes health problems. Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. If affects about 38 million Americans, including adults and youth. Diabetes can damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart.
Healthy practices for diabetes control
The good news is that with some healthy practices, you can help prevent diabetes health problems. These are some tips provided by the NIH:
- Manage your diabetes ABCs. A is for the A1C test that health care professionals use to measure your average blood glucose levels. Be is for blood pressure. C is for cholesterol.
- Take small steps toward healthy habits. Lifestyle habits such as planning healthy meals, being physically active, getting enough sleep, and not smoking may help prevent diabetes or manage your diabetes ABCs. You don’t have to do it all at once. Start slow and build healthier habits from there.
- Take your medicines even if you feel healthy.
- Reach or maintain a healthy weight.
- Take care of your mental health. Managing diabetes can be hard. If you feel down, sad or overwhelmed, learn about healthy ways to cope with stress.
Educating yourself is only a phone call or computer click away. I hope you’ll consider taking advantage of the Extension offerings on diabetes in November.
Laurie Sidle is an Ohio State University Extension Family and Consumer Sciences and 4-H program assistant and may be reached at 330-264-8722 or sidle.31@osu.edu.
