Apr 24, 2019 3 min read

Diabetes is growing at an epidemic rate in the United States, affecting nearly 30 million Americans, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The American Diabetes Association reports that 1,455,813 people in Pennsylvania, or 12.8 percent of the adult population, have diabetes.

Of these, 325,000 have diabetes but don’t know it. Another 3.5 million people in Pennsylvania have prediabetes with blood glucose levels higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed.

“According to the CDC, more than 84 million American adults have prediabetes. The same fact put another way is 1 in 3 American adults,” said Dori Lynn Owczarzak, a registered dietitian who will be helping local residents reconcile diabetes, cooking and eating.

Those who want to learn how to better manage diabetes are invited to participate in a four-part course offered by Penn State Cooperative Extension in May and June in the public meeting room of the Courthouse Square office building, Washington.

“Dining with Diabetes,” a nationally accredited diabetes education program, is scheduled on Tuesdays from to 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. May 7, 14, 28, and June 4. (There will be no class on May 21, the day of the municipal primary.)

The series is geared toward anyone who has type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes, has a family member with type 2 diabetes, or is at risk for developing diabetes. Owczarzak will lead the discussion.

Each class offers information on healthy food and physical activity choices, food demonstrations and tasting and guidance on awareness of numbers to know when managing diabetes.

In addition to program-related booklets, participants will receive the “Dining with Diabetes” cookbook. Class members will have the option of having their A1C tested at the first and follow-up classes.

A1C is a nonfasting blood test obtained by a finger stick. Results show a three-month average blood glucose level.

The four topics are:

• Living well with diabetes: important numbers you need to know;
• Eating well with diabetes: planning healthy meals, healthy food preparation and tips on how to manage eating when away from home;
• Keep moving with diabetes: a focus on physical activity;
• Goal-setting and diabetes medicines.

There will be two recipe demonstrations and tastings. Carrie Masterson will prepare and serve food, but participants will not be doing hands-on cooking in class.

Some of the dishes will be strawberry spinach salad, chicken frittata and almond-crusted fish.

The cost to attend the course is $39. Those who prefer to register online can do so at https://extension.psu.edu/dining-with-diabetes/.

Those who prefer to call can sign up at 877-345-0691. Registration deadline is May 2.