The rate of Type II diabetes continues to rise in Ohio adults and
youth. To address this issue, Ohio State University Extension
implemented the Dining with Diabetes program in counties throughout the
state. A partnership with the Ohio Department of Health provided an
opportunity for 12 counties to offer this four-week program to
clientele of federally qualified health centers in rural and urban
counties. The 200 participants reported learning strategies to improve
their health status through label reading, portion control, menu
planning, and adoption of food-safety practices. The Dining with
Diabetes Team developed a newsletter to distribute to graduates of the
program to continue educational messages after participation in the
program. Additional activities included revision of the curriculum and
development of a comprehensive evaluation tool.
