THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 2014
LIFE
COMMUNITY RECORDER
PEOPLE | IDEAS | RECIPES
Linda Merrell of Independence, left, and Greg Scanlon of Newport, center, listen to diabetes educator Julie Shapero studying food labels at Independence Kroger.KAMELLIA SMITH FOR THE COMMUNITY RECORDER
Supermarket tour focuses on diabetes “People with diabetes are at greater risk for heart disease. So we want to watch the fat.”
By Kamellia Soenjoto Smith kynews@communityrecorder.com
“T
here’s no food you can’t have,” said Julie Shapero, a diabetes educator from the Northern Kentucky Health Department. “But of course the goal is to eat a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.” A group of people took a supermarket tour at Independence Kroger store recently providing nutritional information to those with or at risk for diabetes. They were divided into two groups, with Shapero leading one. The tour was held in recognition of National Diabetes Alert Day. “With diabetes, the main thing is consistency. Consistency with when you eat and how many carbs you eat,” she said. “So try to eat about the same time every day and about the same amount of carbs.” With notebooks in hand, participants followed Shapero up and down the aisles. “Typically, the number to keep in mind for women is 45 to 60 carbohydrates at each meal, which will be three to four choices,” she explained. A choice here means a serving. “For men, it’s 60 to 70 at each meal, or four to five choices.” Shapero pointed to Greg Scanlon of Newport, the only man in her group, and asked, “Do you think that’s fair that he gets more than us ladies?” The woman smiled. Then she asked, “Why do men lose weight easier than
Julie Shapero diabetes educator from the Northern Kentucky Health Department
Diabetes educator Julie Shapero leads a supermarket tour to provide nutrition information to those with or at risk for diabetes at Independence Kroger. KAMELLIA SMITH FOR THE COMMUNITY RECORDER
women?” “Muscle mass,” Marla Johnson of Independence answered. Shapero nodded in agreement. “Men have more muscles than women. More muscle mass means you burn more calories.” When they arrived at the meat section, Shapero asked what they usually did to dispose of a can of bacon grease. “Would you put it in your
sink?” “No,” they all answered. “Why? It will clog up, right?” she replied. “Let me ask you this, what is bigger, the pipes going down your sink or the pipes going to your heart?” Everyone got the message. “People with diabetes are at greater risk for heart disease,” she continued. “So we want to watch the fat.” “What about turkey bacon?”
Scanlon asked. “Turkey bacon may or may not be leaner than center-cut bacon,” Shapero answered while picking up a package of each. She checked their labels and found out that both had the same amount of saturated fat. “So you really want to look at the label.” “How are you going to know if what you’re eating is working?” Shapero asked.
“By checking your blood sugar,” the group answered. “Yes, and we’re looking for patterns,” Shapero pointed out. “So, like Day 1, before breakfast and two hours after breakfast. Day 2, before lunch and two hours after lunch. Day 3, before dinner and two hours after dinner. Day 4, before you go to bed and when you first wake up in the morning.” She shared that about one out of every seven people in Northern Kentucky have diabetes or pre-diabetes. “It’s one in four eastern Kentucky,” she added. There is an upcoming grocery store tour on Thursday, May 8, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Florence Meijer store, sponsored by the Northern Kentucky Diabetes Coalition. Registration is required to guarantee a place. Contact Shapero at 859-363-2116, or Joan Geohegan at 859-363-2115 to register. “You don’t have to be perfect all the time, we know we’re human,” Shapero told the group. “We’re looking for what you can do most of the time, and of course, exercise is very beneficial.”