Dining with Diabetes Class Offered

By Cindy Lea Styer

If you have diabetes, selecting and preparing foods that are low in sugar, fat and sodium can be a real challenge. Ohio State University Extension, Washington County, in partnership with Marietta Memorial Hospital is offering a Dining with Diabetes Class. Not only will you receive up-to-date information on the fifth leading cause of death in Ohio, but this series also provides a cooking class for people with diabetes and their family members or care givers.

Dining with Diabetes will meet every Monday morning from 10 to Noon on April 7, 14, 21 and 28 at the Ohio State University Extension office at 202 Davis Avenue. A reunion is scheduled November 13 for participants to ask questions and to see how they are doing with their new recipes and information.

How to cook with artificial sweeteners, low-fat products, and herbs and spices are some of the topics Kathryn  Dodrill, MA, CFCS,  Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Educator with Ohio State University Extension will discuss. Denise Cooper, BSN, MSN, CDE, Diabetes Nurse Educator; Linda Dowler, RD, LD; Teresa Myer, RN; and Jan Rary, RD, LD with the Diabetes Education Center at Marietta Memorial Hospital will explain diabetes types, complications and prevention information.

For $35 per person or $60 a couple, class participants will also receive recipe booklets and observe cooking demonstrations. All four classes will have foods made with reduced fat, sugar, and salt. Participants will sample desserts, main dishes, and side dishes. No products will be endorsed or sold at the classes.

Call 740/376-7431 for information. Spaces are limited to 30 participants, so call 740/376-7431 as  pre-registration is required by April 4, 2008.

Ohio State University Extension will provide accommodations to handicapped persons needing assistance to participate in Extension programs. If you require some type of assistance and or accommodations to attend programs or utilize written materials, please call the Extension office at 376-7431 at least a week before the program. OSU Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to all clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, age, gender identity or expression, disability, religion, sexual orientation, national origin,  or veteran status. Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Agricultural Administration and Director, OSU Extension. TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868.