Adults with diabetes are twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke than people without diabetes. New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service’s Diabetes Management and Prevention Programs strive to lower diabetes rates through innovative education and research.
“The mission of Diabetes MAPP is to provide education and support to people with diabetes, prediabetes or at risk for diabetes so they can enjoy healthier lives,” said Cassandra Vanderpool, Extension associate for Diabetes MAPP.
Current Diabetes MAPP programs include the National Diabetes Prevention Program, a year-long lifestyle change program; On the Road to Living Well with Diabetes, a course designed for those with prediabetes or at risk for developing diabetes; and Kitchen Creations, a series on nutrition and cooking for adults with diabetes. Courses are free and offered in English and Spanish and in person or online by Zoom.
“Diabetes is not a death sentence,” said Lourdes Olivas, On the Road to Living Well with Diabetes program manager and Extension associate. “It’s a manageable disease. It does take a lot of work. It’s not easy but as long as individuals continue to watch what they eat and maintain physical activity; they are going to be able to manage their diabetes. It takes the support of family, friends, doctors and the community, which is where we come into play to provide Diabetes MAPP.”
February is American Heart Month and provided a timely collaboration for Diabetes MAPP and the Nutrition in Medicine club at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine. Olivas, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent Beatriz Favela with Doña Ana County Extension and NMSU dietetic interns taught a healthy cooking demonstration for medical students at Burrell Feb. 14. The menu included recipes frequently used in the Kitchen Creations classes.
“Diabetes MAPP collaborated with the club at Burrell to help future medical providers understand some strategies to manage diabetes and heart health and to increase awareness of the evidence-based programs offered by Diabetes MAPP to support the health of New Mexicans,” Vanderpool said. “As people take steps to manage or prevent diabetes, they are also taking care of their heart.”
Second-year medical student Kate Ripley, who founded the Nutrition in Medicine club, believed the experience was beneficial for both her personal and professional life.
“I think it is important to understand that there is not one perfect diet so knowing how to recommend certain foods based on the specific needs of my patient is really important to me,” Ripley said. “I think learning how to cook healthy food can promote better nutrition habits as people are much more likely to eat the healthy food if it is prepared in a way to make it enjoyable to eat.”
After cultivating a passion for nutrition in college, Ripley continued the interest in medical school and started the Nutrition in Medicine club to focus on using nutrition to treat various medical pathologies.
“My goal was to bring better awareness of nutritional health to medical students so that they can better advise patients on how to eat healthy as the web and popular culture contains a lot of misinformation that can mislead people into unhealthy diets,” Ripley said. “I also strive to bring awareness to body positivity and learning how we as doctors can promote a healthy self-image while at the same time, encouraging the well-being of our patients.”
In the last 10 years, more than 4,000 people have participated in Kitchen Creations cooking schools offered throughout the state with funding from the New Mexico Department of Health. Each series includes up to 12 hours of group nutrition and cooking education from registered dietitian nutritionists, certified diabetes care and education specialists and Extension agents. Participants receive a manual with the information covered and diabetes cookbooks.
On the Road to Living Well with Diabetes teaches participants how to manage glucose levels better and reduce the complications that may result from uncontrolled diabetes, and is offered in Doña Ana and Otero counties. Utilizing and training community health workers helps On the Road to Living Well with Diabetes reach underserved communities. Funding from the Paso del Norte Health Foundation allowed for three new community health workers to deliver the program in Sunland Park, Anthony and Las Cruces.
The National Diabetes Prevention Program is geared toward individuals with prediabetes or at high risk for type 2 diabetes. Participants meet for 16 consecutive weeks for one hour before transitioning to monthly maintenance classes for a six-to-eight-month period. They benefit from a dedicated lifestyle coach, nutrition and physical activity information, tools to reduce stress and a support group. National Diabetes Prevention Program receives funding from Comagine Inc. and the Paso Del Norte Health Foundation to expand its reach in New Mexico and across state lines.
“This simple and straightforward program can help participants have more energy, feel better and live their best life while reducing their risk by more than half,” said Lucinda Banegas-Carreon, program manager for the National Diabetes Prevention Program and Extension associate. “Through our various programs, Diabetes MAPP educates and empowers people to make healthy lifestyle choices.”
To learn more about Extension’s Diabetes MAPP or subscribe to its newsletter, visit, https://diabetes.nmsu.edu.
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CUTLINE: Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine students Joseph Prokop (from left), Dominica Goyes and Tim Habboub make a salad and salad dressing during a New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service’s Diabetes Management and Prevention Programs cooking demonstration. (NMSU photo by John Reyes)
CUTLINE: Second-year Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine student Kate Ripley, who founded the Nutrition in Medicine club, prepares a dessert during a New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service’s Diabetes Management and Prevention Programs cooking demonstration. (NMSU photo by Tiffany Acosta)