Classes Sponsored by NM Department of Health

Silver City, NM - In 2011, diabetes was the 6th leading cause of death for New Mexicans, and an estimated 154,800 New Mexican adults (18 years and older) had diagnosed diabetes. A special cooking school, called Kitchen Creations, will be held The last Saturday in January and the first Saturday of February, 2015 for adults with type 2 diabetes. The school is designed to help adults with type 2 diabetes learn how to prepare delicious meals and manage their blood sugar levels. By making food choices that keep blood sugar levels under control, adults with type 2 diabetes may live longer and avoid many of the problems associated with diabetes, such as damage to the nerves, eyes, heart, and kidneys.

Kitchen Creations is a series of four classes that will be taught by Judy O'Loughlin, Grant County Extension Home Economist; and Jill Eastep, Registered Nurse on January 31 and February 7 at the Grant County Complex meeting room, 2610 N. Silver St. It covers the most important information adults with type 2 diabetes should know about food. Topics include meal planning, serving sizes, food safety, reading food labels, balancing carbohydrates, and more. Participants will receive a manual of useful information and two cookbooks. During each class, participants will prepare and sample a variety of dishes. Even if you have never cooked, you will enjoy the cooking school and the way you feel as you use the information you learn. If you have diabetes, please call the Grant County Cooperative Extension office at 575-388-1559 to enroll.

Last year, over 500 New Mexicans participated in Kitchen Creations cooking schools. Here are some of the comments they wrote:
"This class was excellent. It made me think and enabled me to do more research to better my life and live as a person with diabetes. This class was also a great tool in teaching how to read labels and what to look for. How to count carbs. And what foods are naturally low carb food as well as high carbs."

"I liked learning to cook more healthfully, I used to fill myself with carbs, but now I feel I'm trying to eat more balanced meals."

"A better program for learning, planning, and best of all it lowered my diabetic numbers."

Kitchen Creations is provided free of charge to participants. This program is provided by the New Mexico Department of Health Diabetes Prevention and Control Program working in partnership with the New Mexico State University Grant County Cooperative Extension Service.

Seating is limited, and priority goes to people who have diabetes. Participants must pre-register and plan to attend both sessions. If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of an auxiliary aid or service, please contact Judy at 575-388-1559 by January 24, 2015.