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CHI ST. JOSEPH HEALTH /// chistjoseph.org 4 Living Well with Type 2 diabetes doesn't have to stand between you and the things you love. Picture the scene: You're standing in the grocery store looking over the seemingly endless choices. You start to feel overwhelmed. Even with education, making healthy choices in real time can be difficult. A GROUP EFFORT Thankfully, managing Type 2 diabetes isn't something you have to do on your own. In addition to partnering with your physician, you can take advantage of educational resources like our Living Well with Diabetes program. As part of this free program, our registered dietitians lead grocery store tours, so you don't feel so lost while planning weekly meals. Take carbohydrates, for example. The reason people with Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes need to be mindful about carbohydrates is that they raise blood sugar faster than other foods. Carbohydrates (regardless of type) raise blood sugar levels. To be heart healthy, it is important to be mindful of what type of carbohydrate is consumed. HANDS-ON HELP There's a big difference, however, between reading that advice or even hearing it in a classroom and putting it into practice. The hands-on education provided in Living Well with Diabetes can make the difference between knowing and doing, according to Shelby Jaedicke, M.S.N., R.N., certified diabetes educator at CHI St. Joseph Health. "When someone is standing in an aisle full of breads, the right choice isn't always obvious," Shelby said. "That's where the grocery store tours come in. We pull products from the shelf and teach participants how to rate the product by reviewing the nutritional labels and ingredient lists." We host grocery store tours every month, and they're just one resource available through Living Well with Diabetes. You can also take part in the twice-monthly offered core programs, which consist of two- to three-hour educational sessions focused on nutrition, foot care, carbohydrate counting and exercise, or attend one of our bimonthly informational seminars. Seminar topics vary from month to month, but they usually cover subjects such as eating out, managing stress, protecting your eyesight and traveling with diabetes. CHI St. Joseph Health's Living Well with Diabetes program is designed for those who have prediabetes, who have recently been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, or who have lived with Type 2 diabetes for a while and simply need a refresher. To learn more or register, visit chistjoseph.org/classes-and-events, or call 979-731-1231. Diabetes