Diabetes is a disabling, deadly disease and on the rise in Tennessee.

Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in Tennessee.

More than 8 percent of Tennesseans have reported having been diagnosed with diabetes.

Diabetes is the primary cause of blindness, non-traumatic amputations of lower extremities, and kidney failure among adults.

Diabetes Control and Complications Trail showed that keeping blood glucose levels close to normal slows onset and progression of eye, kidney and nerve diseases caused by diabetes.

Diabetes is a costly disease in Tennessee. One in seven health care dollars is spent on diabetes care in the United States. Diabetes accounts for 27 percent of this country's entire Medicare budget.

Diabetes is a self-management disease.

Diabetes is a daily self-management disease. Approximately three hours a year is spent with a health care professional. The rest of the year a person is left to manage their disease.

Self-management is the key to controlling diabetes in order to slow the onset and progression of complications.

The effective management of diabetes often requires lifestyle changes for the individual, including commitment to self-management of the disease, self-monitoring of blood glucose, nutrition, exercise, skin and foot care, eye care, taking medications, partnering with health care providers and learning about the disease.

Studies have shown that persons with diabetes do not know how to manage their diabetes and are dissatisfied with the lack of education from their health care providers.

Diabetics often lack the self-confidence in their ability to control blood sugar.

Without the proper education and management skills, diabetes can be frustrating and difficult to live with.

Self-care education is the most basic tool of diabetes care. It is important that individuals with diabetes have the necessary knowledge and skills to manage their condition and increase their potential to lead a healthy and active life.

Take Charge of Your Diabetes is a six-week program designed program for individuals who are interested in learning more about ways to manage their diabetes. The class will begin on Monday, Feb. 27, and continue each week until Monday, April 2. The class will meet each Monday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the UT Extension office. Pre-registration is required and there is NO cost to attend that class. Participants will be expected to attend all six classes, will be given information related to healthy living with diabetes, a book that enhances the class as well as other fee educational materials. Space in this class is limited, so please contact Shelly Barnes, FCS extension agent, at 444-9584 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to sign up. Pre-registration for the class will continue until the class is full.   

Recipe for Diabetics—Chicken Stew

Ingredients

8 chicken pieces (4 pounds chicken total, breasts or legs)
1 cup water
2 small garlic cloves, minced
1 small onion, chopped
1½ teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon pepper
3 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 teaspoon parsley, chopped
¼ cup celery, finely chopped
2 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
2 small carrots, chopped
2 bay leaves

Directions

1. Remove the skin from the chicken and any extra fat. In a large skillet, combine chicken, water, garlic, onion, salt, pepper, tomatoes, and parsley. Tightly cover and cook over low heat for 25 minutes.
2. Add celery, potatoes, carrots, and bay leaves and continue to cook for 15 more minutes or until chicken and vegetables are tender. Remove bay leaves before serving.

Nutrition Facts for this Recipe

Servings per Recipe: Yields 8 servings, 1 piece of chicken

Amount Per Serving

Calories 315 Calories from Fat 27

Total Fat 3 g

Cholesterol 137 mg

Sodium 605 mg

Carbohydrate 13 g

Dietary Fiber 2 g

Protein 55 g

Exchange 1 starch, 8 lean meat

Carbohydrate Units 1