National Diabetes month is observed in November. The theme this year is “Diabetes is a Family Affair.” Diabetes is a challenging disease that affects the entire family in many ways. If you are living with diabetes or have a loved one with the disease, family support is very important when it comes to managing diabetes and preventing serious health problems. It is also important to know that if you have a family history of diabetes – such as a mother, father, brother, or sister – you are at a greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
While I am not a registered dietician, I have participated in many educational sessions which focus on health and wellness. The fact that the number of new people diagnosed with diabetes is rising is always discussed. How can I as an Extension Educator help you understand and address the issues surrounding this serious subject? I hope you will consider contacting me to check out the many fact sheets printed in the past couple of years that focus on healthy eating and exercise.
At the recent educational class I led titled, “What’s in a Snack?” I shared Extension Specialist, Tanda Kidds, fact sheet which is part of the “Kansans Move Into Health” series. As I shared in the meeting, the word ‘snack’ many times has a bad connotation; however, when you choose a healthy snack it can be a good thing. People with or without diabetes can benefit from adding more vegetables, fruit, and whole grains to their daily intake.
As we enter in to a challenging time of year with many social gatherings and holiday dinners brimming with high fat and sugary choices, let’s work to simplify and modify recipes to make them healthier.
Donna Krug is the Family & Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Barton County. You may reach her at (620)793-1910 or dkrug@ksu.edu