Illinois Extension offers diabetes nutrition series

DECATUR — Understanding how food affects blood sugar is a powerful tool for anyone managing diabetes. The University of Illinois Extension will offer a free educational series designed to help individuals strengthen their nutrition knowledge, build practical skills, and feel more confident in day-to-day diabetes care. Each session will include recipe demonstrations and food samples.

Motivation Monday sessions will be from 11 a.m. to noon at the Decatur Family YMCA, 220 W. McKinley Ave. 

Sessions are open to YMCA members and non-members. Participants who are not YMCA members will be required to show an ID to attend.

March 23: What is a Carb?

Identify foods with carbohydrates and how carbs and other nutrients impact your blood sugar. Practice planning meals to improve blood sugar management using tools like carbohydrate counting and the Plate Method. 

Register by March 16

April 20: Diabetes and the Heart

Diabetes is a risk factor for developing heart disease. Learn how four categories of nutrients impact heart health and develop skills around shopping and cooking heart-healthy and diabetes-friendly meals. 

Register by April 16

“Learning how blood sugar levels respond to foods can help those with diabetes build satisfying meals and snacks, fuel activities they want to do, and support full-body health,” says nutrition and wellness educator Caitlin Mellendorf.

There is no cost to attend, but advance registration is a requirement. Visit go.illinois.edu/MondayMotivation. In addition, you can call (217) 877-6042 to sign-up.

The University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please call (217) 877-6042. Illinois Extension strongly encourages early requests to allow sufficient time for meeting your access needs.

Maria Lightner, University of Illinois Extension

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Maria Lightner is the marketing and communications program coordinator for the University of Illinois Extension. She currently serves the area covering DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt counties.

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