Diabetes prevention and treatment cooking classes start May 18 – Estes Park Trail-Gazette

Local instructor Chazz Glaze will cover important diabetes-nutrition topics during this course. (Courtesy photo)

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), a nonprofit dedicated to promoting preventive medicine, is offering a cooking class designed to help local residents with type 2 diabetes avoid complications from the disease and reduce or eliminate the need for medications.

Food for Life: The Power of Food for Diabetes Nutrition and Cooking Class will be held Thursdays from May 18 to June 8 at Salud Family Health Center, 1950 Redtail Hawk Dr. There is a suggested donation of $10 to attend the classes.

The course teaches participants how food choices can prevent and treat type 2 diabetes and arms them with practical cooking skills for making healthy and delicious meals. People who have type 2 diabetes, or concerns about developing diabetes and their friends and family members will benefit from the class.

"Research shows type 2 diabetes can be controlled and even reversed with a healthy plant-based diet," said Susan Levin, M.S., R.D., the director of nutrition education for PCRM. "A vegan diet can help people with diabetes control blood sugar more effectively than the standard diabetes dietary regimen."

The class, designed by physicians, diabetes educators, registered dietitians and professional chefs, offers an easy-to-follow dietary approach based on scientific research. Population studies and clinical research show that a low-fat, plant-based diet is effective at improving blood glucose levels, promoting weight loss, reducing cholesterol and lowering the risk of diabetes and other chronic diseases.

Local instructor Chazz Glaze will cover important diabetes-nutrition topics and guide students through the preparation of tasty and easy-to-prepare recipes. Participants will watch a 30-minute DVD featuring Neal Barnard, M.D., speaking on the role of meal planning, as well as inspiring interviews with people who reversed their diabetes with a vegan diet. They will also enjoy food samples of the recipes prepared in class.

The class details are as follows:

Thursday, May 18, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. How Foods Fight Diabetes

Thursday, May 25, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Power of Your Plate (and Grocery Cart)

Thursday, June 1, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Understanding Type 2 Diabetes and Recognizing and Treating Low Blood Sugar

Thursday, June 8, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Designing a Diet for Maximum Weight Control

Students will leave the class with delicious recipes, information on how to switch to a vegan diet and additional diabetes resources, including information on online webcasts and group support. Participants are strongly encouraged to work with their health care team to safely make dietary changes.

For more information about the Food for Life Diabetes Nutrition and Cooking Class program or to register for the classes, email Glaze at aveganwithaltitude@gmail.com or call (970) 235-1586.

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Diabetes prevention and treatment cooking classes start May 18 - Estes Park Trail-Gazette