“I wanted to enhance my knowledge about diabetes and how to control it and do the best I can with it. Diabetes can be discouraging because it fluctuates, but now I’m learning how to manage that. I’ve learned to moderate my eating. Now I eat to satisfy my hunger, not just to eat. This is the most informative class I’ve ever had. They really want us to learn and make a difference in our lives. I found the information about food labels really interesting. I’m going to be reading labels before I buy and know how to cook my food better. Now I don’t have to be scared, because you can get so scared of diabetes. They reiterate that for us – don’t be scared just eat moderately! I love that word.”

Mary was joined in the class by another resident, Candy, who’s lived at Sunrise for 4 years.

“This is one of the most informative classes I have been in. I have Type-2 diabetes. They caught it at the point where I don’t have to do insulin, but I am on Metformin. I hope that by this time next year I won’t have to take that. I hope you come back and do some checking up. I love the ladies who run the classes, I love the materials, I love the presentation and I love Partners for putting this class on for us.”

Nansea Clendenen, one of the class trainers says that her favorite part of teaching is seeing the change that happens as the participants’ confidence grows.

“Around session three or four, I like to remind the participants of session one, when they come in and they’re not sure what they’re getting themselves into, and they’re shy. And then we come to this third or fourth session, and we’re all up on our feet and laughing and doing marching exercises and everyone is having so much fun. That’s what I love – we’re learning and having fun at the same time.”