Let’s Get Healthy Program hosts Diabetes Extravaganza

On Nov. 24, the Let’s Get Healthy Program held their second ever Diabetes Extravaganza at the First American’s IGA in recognition of Nov. Diabetes Awareness Month. The event was designed to highlight programs that support people living with diabetes and that actively prevent the onset of diabetes within Akwesasne.

“We want to have fun with everybody we are teaching,” said Janine Rourke, Program Director for the Let’s Get Healthy Program, “and everybody is welcome.”

The entire staff was present from the Diabetes program to the Healthy Heart Program with information on their departments and ways they can help support healthy active lifestyles. Mrs. Rourke ran the eating station where guests were treated with healthy and delicious pumpkin chili and chicken vegetable soup while learning about proper portion sizes and low sodium meals. Guests were also invited to take recipe cards with them of the foods they had just tried.

Heather Lauzon, registered dietitian, was also on hand to show IGA customers how easy it is to shop healthy anywhere. Mrs. Lauzon presented a display card which featured a variety of products from the IGA that had whole grains and low sodium. She also demonstrated how to read a food label and how to compare labels so that everyone could do healthy shopping anywhere they went.

And, fitness instructors Nate Thompson and Justin Point stressed the importance of leading healthy lives in the prevention and management of diabetes for both the young and elderly.

Everybody who stopped by the Diabetes Extravaganza at the IGA left with a wealth of information to take control of their healthy and active lifestyles.

Photos by Mary La France