Kevin Jones
CNHI
JACKSONVILLE — The Texas AgriLife Extension Service located in Cherokee County has some educational opportunities for local Type II Diabetics.
“The classes I teach are geared toward type II Diabetics who would like to learn more about healthy meal planning, exercise, eye care, and how to take care of their feet,” said Wendi Green, family and consumer science agent with Texas AgriLife Extension Service, who has taught the class for eight years.
The classes are set in a five-week, nine-lesson series, and with the help of senior-level nursing students from UT Tyler and East Texas Medical Center staff, like Dietician Brenda Sheraton and Pharmacist Ken Koo, the program has been flourishing.
The class helps people with diabetes know how to properly read nutrition labels and how to use their blood glucometer which tests the glucose level of the blood.
The classes are free to the public, thanks to a “cornbread and stew lunch” fundraiser that is held in support of the program.
Along with the general classes a cooking class is offered for diabetics as well called “Cooking well, with Diabetes” It’s geared toward natural foods and helping diabetics understand how the things that they consume affect their blood sugar.
With the cooking classes, demonstrations and tastings occur frequently.
“I feel very passionate about the programs that have been implemented by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service and myself because diabetics rarely get the opportunity to learn how to properly take care of themselves without having to pay a large fee this way we can help them to feel better, live longer, and have happier lives,” Green said.
The classes are currently offered 2-4 p.m. at the HOPE Center. For more information, call Green at 903-683-5416.
