12 Lesson Ideas for Diabetes

Diabetes management can be overwhelming. There's so much to consider -- blood sugar control, weight management, heart disease risk, the exchange lists, counting carbohydrates, etc. Having to do research on top of a scary diagnosis can be a bridge too far, especially if people don't know where to look.Plus, diabetes diagnoses are rapidly increasing. Just take a look at the maps above! With more and more people facing diabetes every day, it is important to gather all the information they need, both for diabetes management and for diabetes prevention. Diabetes requires many lessons for nutrition, heart health, lifestyle, exercise, foot checks, glucose and medications. There are many authorities for all of these lessons and you could literally visit 12 different websites to get up to date information for a healthy plate, exchanges, BMI, cholesterol, blood pressure, carb counting, sodium, foot care and much more. It is hard to compile and update all of this information and many consumers don't know where to start. They need multiple lessons and a good plan to learn them all.The good news is that things just got a little easier. We could not be more excited to introduce our comprehensive curriculum for diabetes management and prevention, The 12 Lessons of Diabetes.The 12 lesson program has gathered all the vital information about diabetes into one handy place, and we do not exaggerate when we say that it is comprehensive. This book offers a ton of information, presented simply and clearly, organized in a straightforward way. Tons of dietitians and researchers have come together to contribute to this book, including James J. Kenney, PhD, FACN, Barbara Hart, MS, RD, Victoria Shanta Retelny, RD, LD, Jill Weisenberger, MS, RD, CDE, Beth Fontenot, MS, RD, pharmacist Barbara Rogers, and nurse Karla Logston, RN, BS, CDE. Plus, the book features key resources from the American Diabetes Association, the CDC, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, MyPlate, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the National Institutes of Health, and more!So, what exactly does this program do? It takes everything you need to know about diabetes and presents it in 12 straightforward lessons that are relevant to today's consumer. Here's the rundown of each lesson:

• Lesson 1 - Diabetes 101 and Risk Factors. Build understanding of different types of diabetes and the health risks they pose.
• Lesson 2 - Motivation and Smart Goal Setting. Examine the whys and hows of setting (and sticking to) realistic goals.
• Lesson 3 - Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, and You. Review the basics of blood pressure and cholesterol, along with the connection between diabetes and heart disease. A diabetes diagnosis great increases the risks for heart disease.
• Lesson 4 - The Whys and Hows of Weight Management. Explore the reasons why weight management is important and how participants can manage their weight successfully.
• Lesson 5 - Exercise to Lose and Control Weight. Discuss the benefits of exercise, especially as it relates to blood sugar control, heart health, and diabetes risk management.
• Lesson 6 - Healthful Eating with Diabetes. Outline the nuts and bolts of a balanced diet.
• Lesson 7 - The Benefits of a Healthful Breakfast. Lots of people skip breakfast. Stop! This lesson offers fun and easy ways to start each day with a balanced meal.
• Lesson 8 - Make a Diabetes Plate. Examine the food components and ratios that make healthful eating with diabetes easy and fun.
• Lesson 9 - Carbohydrate Counting and Label Reading. Read Nutrition Facts labels, using that information to balance carbohydrate consumption.
• Lesson 10 - Shop Smart. Healthful shopping habits can make life with diabetes much easier. Learn the tricks of the trade here.
• Lesson 11 - Snack Right. Review tips and tricks for planning and preparing nutritious snacks.
• Lesson 12 - Sugar Substitutes. Evaluate a wide variety of nutritive and non-nutritive sweeteners.

In addition to our 12 lessons, the new program also offers a fascinating appendix that addresses the pros and cons of diabetes medications, tips for proper wound care, and a guide to special foot care. This appendix was put together by a team of pharmacists, registered dietitians, and nurses, who all have a great history of working with patients with diabetes. The program offers a full book, participant workbooks, posters, PowerPoints, and more! It really does have everything you need to know.Want to learn more? Check out the book! It's available for preorder today!PS We'd love to give a special shout-out to Kristy Heisner, RD, who was the first customer to request this book! Thanks Kristy!