Email jpelkki@ascension.org with your question about diabetes management and we’ll feature the answer in this column.
In this Thanksgiving month, I am spending some time thinking about our diabetes self-management program at DePaul Community Health Centers. Here are some specific things about our program for which I’m thankful:
Support from Ascen-sion Health, Daughters of Charity’s Ministries, Arkansas Community Foundation and many other granting agencies. Their support has allowed us to provide over $1,116,000 worth of services to Desha and Lincoln Counties-FREE of charge to participants.
The delicious, healthy meals we’ve served to people who attend class.
The diabetes self-management tools such as pedometers, diabetes identification bracelets, diabetes socks, pill minders, magnifying readers, portion plates, measuring spoons and cups and cookbooks that we are able to share with people who come to class.
The 1,100+ people who have attended our diabetes self-management program and thus reduced their risk of experiencing diabetes complications.
The ability to offer our program to anyone who wants to attend, not just patients of DePaul Community Health Centers.
The relief that attendees show when they find out they can still eat foods they enjoy.
The pride that class attendees show when they set a healthy eating exercise goal and meet that goal.
The motivation that class participants get from each other when they share their successes.
The encouragement that class attendees give each other when struggles are shared.
The joy that we feel when a class participant overcomes a struggle and is excited to tell us how they persevered.
The support we’ve gotten from local people and agencies to help us publicize our program. These include (to name a few) Dumas, Star City and McGehee Public Libraries; The Dumas Clarion; Arkansas Department of Health-Desha County; University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Services; Delta Memorial Hospital; McGehee Hospital; local physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses and social workers; and local churches.
The many health fairs we’ve attended where we get to share the good news that diabetes CAN be managed.
Here’s a celebratory food perfect for Thanksgiving or anytime!
Crustless Pumpkin Pie
¾ cup sugar
2 eggs
½ cup baking mix (like Bisquick)*
1 can (15 ounce) pumpkin
1 can (12 ounce) nonfat evaporated milk
3 ½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice**
2 teaspoons vanilla
Preheat oven to 350℉. Lightly oil or spray a 9 to 10-inch pie plate.
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl.
Beat 2 minutes with a mixer until smooth. Pour into pie plate
Bake 55 to 65 minutes, or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Serve with low-fat vanilla yogurt or whipped topping.
Nutrition Facts: Makes 8 slices. Each slice provides 180 calories, 2.5 grams fat, 160 mg sodium, 33 grams carbohydrate, 6 grams protein. Lots of yummy celebration fun!
*If you don’t have baking mix on hand, substitute, ½ cup flour, ¾ teaspoon baking powder, ¼ teaspoon salt and 1 ½ teaspoons oil.
**No pumpkin pie spice? Use 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground ginger and ½ teaspoon nutmeg.
Recipe and photo from foodhero.org
